The review of the National Minimum Wage will be undertaken by an independent and suitably qualified consultant to provide an objective and evidence-based assessment of the wage structure and appropriate adjustments.
This has been highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for Employment Maritino Nemani after the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation has re-iterated that the Government must strengthen the technical, legal and institutional frameworks for wage setting in Fiji.
FCEF CEO Edward Bernard says they do not have a minimum wage council to allow for tripartite discussions and nor do we have a wage policy or criteria to ensure transparent and evidenced based wage setting in Fiji.
While responding, Nemani says Fiji’s minimum wage framework is governed by the Employment Relations Act 2007 and relevant wage regulations.
He says Fiji ratified the ILO Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) in 1974. Article 3 of Convention No. 26 provides that each ratifying Member may determine the nature and form of its minimum wage-fixing machinery and the methods to be followed in its operation.
The Permanent Secretary says Fiji has not ratified ILO Convention No. 131 – Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 and accordingly, Convention No. 131 does not impose binding legal obligations on Fiji.
However, Nemani says its principles and guidance are relevant to the development of effective and evidence-based minimum wage-setting systems, and the Ministry recognises the value of continued technical engagement with the ILO in this area.
He says the National Minimum Wage provides a basic wage floor for workers who are not covered by sectoral wage regulations.
He stresses the wage framework is subject to periodic review to ensure that wage rates remain responsive to prevailing economic and social conditions.
He says cabinet has approved a comprehensive review of the National Minimum Wage and the minimum sectoral wages across 10 sectors.
Nemani says the National Minimum Wage and the minimum sectoral wages review will consider a broad range of factors, including cost of living, inflation, wage trends, productivity, employment, poverty, labour-market conditions and broader economic conditions, together with the potential effects of wage adjustments on businesses, employment, investment, productivity, trade and regional economic activity.
Nemani says the Ministry recognises that wage adjustments can have different impacts across businesses, particularly small and micro enterprises and accordingly, the review will consider both workers’ living standards and the capacity and sustainability of enterprises, without predetermining the outcome.
He says the review process will include consultation with key stakeholders, including workers, trade unions, employers, employer organisations, State-owned enterprises, civil society and other relevant social partners.
The Permanent Secretary says this will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to present their views, data and evidence for consideration by the independent consultant.
Nemani explains following completion of the review, the findings and recommendations will be considered through Fiji’s established tripartite institutional framework, including the Employment Relations Advisory Board and the Wages Councils, with further stakeholder consultation as part of the process before final recommendations are submitted to Cabinet.
The Ministry also recognises the importance of having clear, transparent and evidence-based criteria for wage-setting.
Nemani says the matters raised by FCEF concerning section 264(w) of the Employment Relations Act 2007 will be considered as part of the Ministry’s ongoing technical and legal work to further strengthen Fiji’s wage-setting framework.
Nemani further says the Ministry recognises the importance of strengthening Fiji’s wage data and analytical capacity, adding reliable information on wages, productivity, inflation, employment, poverty, labour-market conditions and other relevant economic and social indicators will assist in developing a stronger evidence base for future wage-setting decisions.
He says the Ministry welcomes the contribution of employers, workers and other social partners to this process.
Nemani says the ILO’s technical assistance and the tripartite wage-setting discussions held in June 2026 have also provided useful perspectives on international approaches to minimum wage setting and the factors that may be considered in determining appropriate wage levels.
He says Government remains committed to a transparent, evidence-based and consultative wage-setting process that appropriately considers workers’ living standards, enterprise sustainability, employment, productivity and Fiji’s broader economic and social circumstances.
Nemani adds the current comprehensive review provides an opportunity to further strengthen the technical, institutional and consultative foundations of wage-setting in Fiji.
