FNPF pleads with members to be honest while applying for COVID-19 assistance

The Fiji National Provident Fund is pleading with its members to be honest while applying for the COVID-19 assistance as they have noted that some people that are not affected have applied.

This has been highlighted by the FNPF Chief Financial Officer, Pravinesh Singh who says there are cases where fraudulent letters from employers have been circulated.

Singh says this is not an opportunity to profit from the assistance that has been rolled out by FNPF and government.

He says the requirement for this assistance is very clear and this includes those that have been terminated, reduced hours, reduced pay, leave without pay or indefinite leave.

Singh says this assistance is not for civil servants as they have not suffered any pay cut.

FNPF CEO, Jaoji Koroi says they try to process 5,000 applications per day.

Koroi says a total of $18.19 million has been paid out so far by the Fiji National Provident Fund and the government through the COVID-19 withdrawal assistance.

He says $2.39 million has been paid by the government and $15.8 million has been paid by the Fund.

Koroi says about 25,320 FNPF members have been assisted through the COVID-19 withdrawal scheme.

He says the volume of applications received continues to increase and to date, they have received more than 52,083 applications.