People are talking about issues such as cost of living, unemployment and poverty – Chaudhry

Fiji Labour Party Mahendra Chaudhry says people are talking about issues such as the cost of living, unemployment and poverty.

While speaking at a party meeting in Muanikoso, Chaudhry says many families aren't even able to afford their basic needs.

He told the people at the meeting that young men and women are looking for jobs and even if they find something the wages are not good.

The former Prime Minister adds that poverty is also spreading around the country.

He says he has been travelling to different parts of the country and a lot of people are talking about change.

While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan, Chaudhry had earlier said they have talked about growing the private sector to create opportunities and are proposing an Academy of Arts, Culture and Sports.

Chaudhry says the FLP is also proposing that they will absorb the dropouts through a National Service Scheme that they are proposing to create.

He says it will provide opportunities to upto 5,000 men and women to join the scheme and at the same time, they will be upskilling and will be given jobs and community service work.

Chaudhry says the only way they can address poverty is by creating opportunities and jobs.

He further says there has been too much concentration on tourism adding that it only caters for certain segments of the people.

The former Prime Minister adds to address cost of living they have to pay basic wages which meets the basic needs of the family.

He says if the wages are reasonable it will help the economy.

Chaudhry further says they need to improve the minimum wage rate and they will look at it seriously in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.