No reduction in the Poverty Benefit Scheme in the 2021/2022 National Budget

With the 2021/2022 National Budget set to be announced on the 16th of this month, Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has made it clear that government will not reduce any of the designated allowances in the poverty benefit schemes in the upcoming financial year.

Sayed-Khaiyum has also stated that of the $59.2 million budgetary support given by Australia, $31.1 million was specifically for Social Welfare support.

The Attorney General also hosted a Development Partner Forum last week where development partners reaffirmed their commitment to helping Fijians mitigate and recover from the pandemic and further pledged their support for the Budget cycle.

Over 60 representatives from bilateral and multilateral partners attended the meeting virtually.

Addressing members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of multilateral institutions, Sayed-Khaiyum conveyed the Fijian Government’s appreciation for the continuous timely support to our health and economic response.

Sayed-Khaiyum also provided an update on the targeted unemployment support provided to the formal and informal sector, provision of household packs to those in targeted lockdown areas and spending on other social protection initiatives.

More than 80,000 Fijians are currently benefiting from the government’s Social Welfare Programs.

This includes around 43,909 people being assisted through the Social Pension Scheme, 22,450 families being assisted through the Poverty Benefit Scheme, 7,815 people being assisted under the Care and Protection Scheme and 8,716 people who are receiving Disability Allowance.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa says these are ongoing programs which have not been affected by COVID-19.

The Ministry was allocated $159.0 million in the 2020/2021 National Budget.

They will also continue works to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment by mainstreaming their participation in Fiji’s socioeconomic development which is driven by the implementation of the National Gender Policy and the Women’s Plan of Action to better promote gender equality.