Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the new cash for work programme for the informal sector will be limited to those who can provide proof that they do not have FNPF accounts and are not registered with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service.
Sayed-Khaiyum says these individuals will also have to provide proof of a reliable income source before COVID-19.
He says they will work with other organisations who can come up with temporary work programmes in return for pay that could be in the form of clean up campaign, planting trees or other agricultural produce.
He further says the aim is to pilot the progamme in Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka and the details will be announced once the consultations are complete and the guidelines for implementation are finalised.
Sayed-Khaiyum says according to the RBF, there are at least 130,000 Fijians in the informal sector.
While responding to the announcement, SODELPA MP, Ro Filipe Tuisawau says they are pleased that the government has listened to the Leader of Opposition Sitiveni Rabuka’s suggestion.
Ro Filipe says the cash for work programme was one of the fundamental suggestions form the opposition.
National Federation Party Parliamentarian, Lenora Qereqeretabua says the cash for work programme should have been included in the budget.
