Private sector in Fiji is struggling today with the skills shortage so we need to work on the TVET sector – Batiweti

The private sector in the country is struggling today with the skills shortage but we cannot stop Fijians who are moving away so as a consequence, we need to work on the technical, vocational education and training sector.

This has been highlighted by Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation CEO Kameli Batiweti during the post budget panel discussion at the Reserve Bank of Fiji.

He says we will have to bring in a lot more blue collar expatriates to work in Fiji.

Batiweti says this is why there is a need to work together so the skills Fiji is currently losing is quickly replaced by trained Fijians to ensure the private sector survives and is able to compete.

He says if we get it right, the skills migration will assist us but the training of skilled people here is absolutely necessary.

He is also asking the Government if the 21 day business visa on arrival for limited countries is opened up to include countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

The CEO says most technicians in the manufacturing sector are brought in from these countries to replace the blue-collar Fijian workers who are now transitioning into the labour skills mobility market.

Batiweti adds the budget is a fair one because it will help the private sector focus on resilient recovery and also on future recovery.

He says the tax regime which was restructured over the last two years has been left generally unchanged to provide policy consistency for the private sector.