Lautoka Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Pyara Singh says a bulk of businesses in Lautoka have closed their doors as per the government’s directive and their employees are receiving or have applied for FNPF assistance.
Singh says he has not done a survey to determine how many businesses are closed.
He has highlighted that most of the employees had applied for assistance from the Fiji National Provident Fund previously and are still receiving that money while people residing in Ba and Nadi who cannot come into Lautoka for work are applying for assistance as well.
Meanwhile, Lautoka resident, Narayan Reddy says a lot of people have lined up at Tilak High School to get vaccinated.
Reddy says he has observed that Police are ensuring that people are wearing masks and are socially distancing themselves.
He has also highlighted that the City is not that busy right now but the people who are in the City, are wearing masks.
Reddy says supermarkets are continuing to sell masks at their entrance and are checking for the careFIJI app before they let anyone in.
Lautoka taxi driver, Ashween Kumar says he used to earn about $120 to $130 a day but is now earning only about $20 to $30.
Kumar says he has to look after his parents, wife and child and has to make ends meet.
He adds he is in the process of applying for assistance from FNPF.
