343 Fiji Ports terminal staff to get $758,000 bonus

343 Fiji Ports terminal staff will be receiving $758,000 as bonus.

While speaking during the announcement, Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says human resource capital is something that we all need to value.

He says you can have all the equipment, a modern day port but if you do not have the people with the right skill sets to drive it, they mean nothing.

Sayed-Khaiyum says that even though the pandemic, global and economic downturn posed numerous challenges on global supply chains, trans-shipping has increased by 29 percent.

The Minister says this indicates international shipping companies have recognised Fiji as the hub of the Pacific, and the centre of the South Pacific for a very long time and we need to take advantage of that.

He says Fiji Ports Terminal has invested $4.5 million for the procurement of additional container handling machines, consisting of two units of reach stackers and two units of empty container handlers.

Sayed-Khaiyum says when you have modern equipment, management systems, customer service, technology, equipment, it makes us more attractive and that means more customers.

He adds that from a government perspective, they want to create the right environment for that, and the fact that the company is giving additional bonus because of the profits they made is basically in sync with the way the Government thinks.

He says the Government philosophy is to look after our most important assets, the people, human capital.