The Ministry of Economy has today rolled out a $10 million assistance package initially to support around 200,000 people affected by COVID-19 in the whole of Viti Levu.
Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says this $50 government assistance is specifically targeting those individuals in the informal sector and those who are not getting any other form of assistance through FNPF and the government collaboration regarding unemployment benefits.
He says any person who is 18 years and over in Viti Levu who is not getting any form of assistance can apply for the $50 assistance.
Sayed-Khaiyum says this is for individuals and not based on households so a number of eligible members of a household can apply individually.
Sayed-Khaiyum says they are targeting Viti Levu because quite a lot people outside the containment zones have also been affected as those people who may be living in Ba and cannot go to work in Lautoka or those in Sigatoka who cannot go and sell their produce in Nadi.
He says they also are developing a good database on the number of people in the informal sector.
The Attorney General says by using the M-PAiSA and My Cash platforms, they are also developing a lot of people who are coming onto the digital space.
He also calls on people not to double dip as when they rolled out the $90 assistance, there were 20,000 people who applied but they were already getting FNPF assistance.
He says those who do not qualify are civil servants, those in the formal sector who are already receiving assistance and those getting the reduced hours benefit, those getting the $220 payment, those in full time employment, those people receiving TELS and scholarship allowances, those getting FNPF pension and those on government pension.
The $50 assistance application began at 3pm this afternoon and all those 18 years and over in Viti Levu who are eligible can apply.
You have to dial *161# and fill out the details.
Applications expected to close on Friday evening.
Sayed-Khaiyum says it will take at least 5 working days as the records have to be verified.
They will work with Vodafone, Digicel, FNPF, FRCS, the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Board and Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation to verify and process the applications.
Sayed-Khaiyum also says the last time they received calls from people complaining that some people cashed the $90 assistance and bought alcohol, cigarettes and grog.
He says we cannot hold your hand all the time, it is your personal responsibility, the government cannot stop that but they hope people do not do that as this is to assist their families.
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