Fiji Budget 2018

Epeli Rabua, Suva

The Fijian people would truly appreciate and embrace Fiji’s new Budget if the government of the day and the Minister for Finance would also approve the following;

1. Increase the current low wages bill from $2.68 an hour to $5 an hour;

2. Up-Value the Fijian Dollar and make it stronger by about 10 per cent; and

3. Direct all companies/work places to increase salaries/wages automatically by 15 per cent, as this is only about half of the cost of living adjustments for the last 12 years this government has been in power.

If the above points cannot be added on, then Fiji’s 2018 Budget is only for about 25 per cent of Fijian families, including all the government ministers, their permanent secretaries, senior government officials, corporate company managers and senior executives.

For the rest, it is just another day in paradise. The struggle to make ends meet will continue. And the Budget, just another exercise in futility.