Even with the current COVID-19 crisis, the members of the Business Process Outsourcing industry have been able to secure outsourcing contracts which translates into employment creation.
This has been highlighted by the Executive Director for the Business Process Outsourcing Council Shagufta Janif who says that the BPO industry is providing for over 5,000 Fijians and their families.
She says they have not reached the 6,000 employment mark yet but they will be getting there very soon.
Janif says some of their members now have doubled their workforce compared to the pre-second wave of Covid.
She says there is a need to market Fiji as an ideal destination for investment in the outsourcing industry with lucrative tax rebate initiatives that Fiji currently has.
Janif says this is one of the budget submissions that they have made to the Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
She says they have asked for Government’s support in marketing and branding Fiji as the outsourcing destination of choice.
Janif says looking at the increasing demand for outsourcing services, Fiji is well placed to cater for these demands and tap into the international market.
She says they are also requesting that government consider the creation of Special Economic Zones for the BPO and ICT sector similar to the Tax-Free Region which can be used to drive investment in the Business Process Outsourcing Sector.
Janif says there should also be incentives for anyone investing in the infrastructure that supports the BPO industry and operations.
She says there is also an urgent need for Fiji to take the necessary steps towards the composition and implementation of robust Data Protection and Privacy Laws.
Janif says the protection and privacy of data is a critical issue for any organization, and more so for the BPO industry.
She says data security is vital to ensure the safety and confidentiality of an entity’s data, and data that it may hold for third parties.
Janif says it is critical that the laws of Fiji are such that the operators, investors and their customers have peace of mind that their data is safe and protected.
She says an effective risk and governance structure is supported by effective data protection and privacy policies and procedures, which are in turn supported by Data Protection and Privacy Laws.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum will deliver the 2021/2022 National Budget address at 7.30pm tonight. Stay with us for live coverage of the address on our website and facebook page, fijivillage.
