Bernard says sometimes, some employers have told him that up to 50 percent of their machines are not working because workers have either not turned up to work or there is no one qualified to operate specialised equipment.
The FCEF CEO stresses that the breadth and depth of unavailable skills is a serious concern for Fiji.
He says the country is facing a crisis not only because there are not enough workers, but also because there is a shortage of workers with the right skills, qualifications and behaviour.
Bernard also highlighted behaviour as one of the major issues affecting workplaces.
When asked how employers are dealing with behavioural problems, he said the net effect is low productivity.
Insert: Bernard on workers 21st May
When questioned is Fiji importing workers to fill gaps that Fijians should be filling, Bernard said Fiji is increasingly becoming a major receiving country for labour.
He says employers still need to keep businesses operating and continue providing services to consumers despite the shortage of local workers.
Bernard says Bangladesh and India have been Fiji’s main source markets for foreign workers over the last three years, while workers are also being recruited from Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
He says getting a foreign worker is not relatively cheap and employers would prefer to hire, reskill and upskill local workers, but the required skills are currently lacking in Fiji.
Meanwhile, Fiji Higher Education Commission Director, Eci Naisele says the crisis has existed for a long time because training institutions have continued training students without proper labour market data to guide them.
Dr Naisele says industries have evolved significantly over the past decade, but many training programmes remain outdated and are not aligned with current industry needs.
He used the example of the construction industry, saying Fiji is now moving towards prefab buildings, but he is uncertain whether carpentry programmes currently teach those specialised skills.
Dr Naisele stressed that the National Skills Gap Survey Report is critical because it provides a pathway for training institutions to align their programmes with industry demands.
He says developing positive attitudes and behaviour remains one of the biggest challenges facing the education sector.
