Businesses and MSMEs will be better prepared to question and respond to future tariff increases, with the launch of a new Basic Tariff Literacy Toolkit aimed at helping the private sector understand how regulated prices are determined.
The toolkit was developed by the Asia-Pacific Regulatory Centre in partnership with the Fiji-Australia Vuvale partnership, Ministry of Commerce and Business Development and the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation, with input from the Fiji Disabled Persons Federation, United Blind Persons of Fiji and the Fiji Association of the Deaf.
Speaking to fijivillage News, APRC Executive Director, Joel Abraham says the toolkit is designed to help the private sector better understand how prices are regulated and meaningfully participate in regulatory pricing decisions and consultations.
Abraham says this can cover issues such as minimum wage, electricity pricing and other areas where regulatory agencies make decisions.
He says the toolkit provides step-by-step guidance on how people can trace how regulated prices are determined, understand what drives price changes and ask better questions during consultations.
He says as part of the programme, 11 training sessions were held across the Western, Northern and Central divisions, reaching 268 participants.
Abraham says the toolkit was developed using feedback from participants and is intended to ensure knowledge gained during the training continues beyond the workshops.
He says the toolkit has been translated into Braille, while an audiobook has also been developed.
He says the training is also available through an online Learning Management System, giving participants 12 months to complete the programme at their own pace and at no cost.
Abraham says a Phase Two programme is also being designed, which will focus on more advanced analytical training around tariff literacy.
Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation CEO Edward Bernard says the toolkit is particularly important for MSMEs, which previously had limited guidance on how to address tariffs and engage with regulators.
Bernard says the need for this training became clear when businesses faced an increase of about 32 percent in EFL tariffs earlier this year, which caught many by surprise.
He says the online training package will now allow more MSMEs to access the programme from their businesses.
Bernard says there was no cost for the initial training, which was supported by the Australian Government, although future subsidised costs are still being discussed.
Special Administrator of Labasa Town Council Samuela Liqairi says the training has already had a practical impact on his work.
Liqairi says the workshop helped him better understand issues around staff pay rises, job assessments and tariffs, which has assisted him in his decision-making.
He says the benefits of the toolkit should reach vendors and small businesses and not only large businesses.
Liqairi says the North is developing at a fast pace and better understanding of tariffs will help businesses and ordinary people make more informed decisions.
