Fiji Business Groups Reject $8 Living Wage Plan

The Fiji Trades Union Congress has put forward a proposal for an $8.00 living hourly wage, a move that has been met with strong opposition from key business organizations. The Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has publicly rejected the proposal, aligning itself with the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation in their stance.

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pushing for a new wage system at a time when businesses and government are struggling is not acting in good faith.

NCCI President Lawrence Kumar stated that the timing of this proposal is ill-considered, given the current economic struggles faced by businesses and the government. He emphasized that the Chamber supports the evidence-based position of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation and urged all stakeholders to consider the broader economic implications.

The NCCI highlighted that Fiji's minimum wage has already seen substantial increases, rising by 115% since 2015 and by 86.6% in the last three years alone. This rapid growth, they argue, places Fiji among countries with the fastest wage growth globally and makes its current minimum wage significantly higher than that of Papua New Guinea, despite PNG's larger economy.

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the Chamber supports the evidence-based position taken by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation.

Concerns about low productivity, skills shortages, high youth unemployment, and rising operational costs were also raised by the NCCI. They warned that these existing challenges are already impacting business sustainability. The Chamber is advocating for a structured and transparent consultation process for any future wage reviews, emphasizing the need to consider national economic conditions and business viability, referencing international guidance that living wage systems are not always mandatory.

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living wage discussions must consider national conditions and business viability.