It’s good news for 247 Airports Fiji Limited workers as they have received substantial pay increments today.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama approved the increments as the last pay rise for the staff was in 1999 and the workers who have received increments needed the raise due to their current income level.
Those who will benefit from this pay increment at AFL cover a broad range of categories and include baggage handlers, firemen, security officers, plumbers, painters, carpenters and drivers.
Most earn less than $15,000 a year and many earn less than $10,000 a year.
225 of the 247 earn less than $15,000 and 97 earn less than $10,000.
They will each get different pay rises depending on their personal circumstances, with baggage handlers receiving more than $2,000 a year and some technical officers getting $8,000 increases.
The increases come after a review of the wages of airport workers by an independent consultant, the Hays Group.
Acting AFL Chairman Faiz Khan said the pay rise is an investment for the company.
He told the staff that from next year with the approval of the Ministry of Public Enterprise the company will implement the Performance Management System.
He said under the system, the workers who do not perform to the company’s expectation will lose their jobs.
The pay rise will cost the company $725,000 a year.
Story by: Watisoni Butabua