Financial empowerment

Pranil Ram, Nadi

I believe the recent announcement by the Government to help the SMEs through concessional loans is a good thing.

This is like a lifeline thrown out to businesses to keep them afloat.

However, I deeply believe that it is more about how financially empowered these businesses feel to take up these loans.

The role of Business Assistance Fiji and other business advisors is quite critical here and I am sure they are ready to help.

The natural tendency is that loans during these unprecedented times are going to add further to the financial woes of the business. It is what kind of financial advice given to the entrepreneurs that matters the most. How these businesses are going to reset their priorities to remain viable. A right advice may help the businesses to sail through this financial storm. However, wrong advice may send the business towards the path of becoming insolvent. served by an efficient, fast and a polite cashier so that we can get out of the queue and head for home or do other things and are not aware of the ergonomic hazard some cashiers have to put up with.

Some employers assumingly insist that their performance and the productivity are better when not seated. Apart from the few breaks there is no other rest period or comforts that are enjoyed by the cashiers.

The long hours of standing at a work place can be harmful to health and the most noticeable of the many signs are slouching which is the improper posture, veins that have become enlarged and twisted and joint compression which puts a lot of pressure and weight on the knees. It is also a problem for the women who are pregnant.

The employer has a duty of care for the workers.

We have the laws but needs enforcement to protect the health and the safety of the workers at the work place eliminating or controlling any hazards and the risks that are out there.