Govt pays out over $100m to around 270,693 Fijians

Government has now paid out over $100 million to around 279,693 Fijians under the first round of the unemployment assistance.

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they expect another 3,900 people to be paid tomorrow.

Sayed-Khaiyum says these people will be receiving a reduced amount as they had over-claimed during their previous $50 and $90 assistance schemes.

He says another 6,850 will be paid in the next few days once their TIN numbers are verified as some people are not giving their correct TIN numbers.

Sayed-Khaiyum has also apologized to those people who met all the criteria but have not received the payment yet because of their vaccination record.

The Minister for Economy says they have discovered some anomalies in the registration of a person when they go to get their first jab.

Sayed-Khaiyum says there were 57,913 in that category and 46,800 have already been paid.

He adds the verification process of the others is still taking place.

Sayed-Khaiyum has also revealed that some people are still trying to bypass the system where 21 people were using sim cards of dead people to apply for the $360.

With regards to the civil servants who had also applied for the assistance, the Attorney General says they know who these individuals are and their names will be sent to the respective Permanent Secretaries to carry out the disciplinary action.