Resort workers tell of strife

FORMER resort and airline workers informed Opposition parliamentarians they were struggling to make ends meet.

A Sikituru villager in Nadi told Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) and National Federation Party (NFP) members on a listening tour that they heard of assistance being provided to some sections of the community while their plight was being overlooked.

The former resort worker raised the issue with Opposition Leader Sitiveni Rabuka, NFP leader Prof Biman Prasad and members of Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua and Niko Nawaikula.

“A lot of us really depend on the hotels, when it’s down we are out of work,” the resort worker said.

“We are seeing in the news the amount of assistance that is coming in. I have one request, if they could also look at us here living in the villages. There are people who are in need of help. Like for some us, we do babysitting work at the resorts and when that’s closed, there is no work for us. A lot of us are looking for assistance.”

Ms Qereqeretabua said she understood the struggles people were going through.

She said a lot of people who were either directly or indirectly employed in the tourism industry in Nadi were the worst affected.

“I spoke to some former Fiji Airways staff who talked about the struggles they’re facing in trying to pay off their debts and bank loans,” Ms Qereqeretabua said.

“There are demands almost every day for their car payment and the only payment they can make is about $30 each week and this is money that they’re earning at Votcity.”