$234.8m paid out so far through the FNPF COVID-19 relief assistance

$234.8 million has been paid out so far to affected FNPF members through Phases 2,3 and 4 of the COVID-19 relief assistance.

Phases 2 and 3 have been extended until June and Phase 3 Round 4 will open next Monday.

FNPF Acting CEO Viliame Vodonaivalu says of this amount, the government top-up total is $109.8 million.

He says $125 million was paid out of members funds.

Phase 2 Round 4

Phase 2 Round 4 provides continuous relief for members who are still on leave without pay due to COVID-19 or were unemployed from October 2019.

Vodonaivalu says through Phase 2 Round 4, 34,866 members currently continue to receive fortnightly installments of $220.

He adds a total of $30.6 million has been paid out and of this amount - $24.3 million was paid by government.

The Acting FNPF CEO says a final payment remains for Phase 2 Round 4 and this will be disbursed next Tuesday on 16th March.

Phase 3 Round 3

Phase 3 Round 3 which closed this week was for members still at work but on reduced hours or reduced wage rate.

Vodonaivalu says 19,229 members were still assisted with $11.7 million paid out.

He adds $5.8 million was topped up by government.

Phase 4

Phase 4 is for members who have been unemployed from 1st January 2010 to 30th September 2019.

Vodonaivalu says 11,083 members have been paid $1.9 million in Phase 4.

He says this phase was not topped up by government because members were unemployed well before the COVID-19 pandemic.