A clear plan to introduce a living wage should be a key feature of the 2026/2027 National Budget, according to Fiji Trades Union Congress National Secretary Felix Anthony, who says the workers have endured years of declining real wages despite rising living costs.
Speaking to fijivillage News on the Fiji Trades Union Congress' budget submission ahead of next Friday's budget announcement, Anthony says the union is not expecting an immediate implementation of a living wage but wants the Government to outline how it intends to achieve one over a short period of time.
Anthony says real wages have declined over the past decade and a half, particularly during the previous administration when the minimum wage remained at $2.68 an hour for 16 years before being increased to $4 shortly before the 2022 General Election.
He says the issue has become increasingly urgent as workers continue to face rising inflation and a higher cost of living.
The FTUC is also calling for a review of Fiji's wages councils, which Anthony describes as long overdue.
He says while Fiji currently has 10 wages councils, not all workers are covered under the existing framework.
Insert: Anthony - Wages Council issue June 19
He also called for greater consistency in benefits across the various wages councils, including meal allowances, weekend penalty rates, public holiday pay and other worker entitlements.
The FTUC is further seeking a dedicated trade union grant to support worker education programmes focused on employment rights, occupational health and safety, and labour laws.
Anthony says such assistance will be particularly important as Fiji prepares for anticipated labour law reforms.
He is also urging the Government to reaffirm its commitment to the labour law review process, noting that the Bill tabled in Parliament more than a year ago is yet to be enacted.
While many of the issues raised in the FTUC's submission have been discussed with Government over several years, Anthony says progress has been slow.
He notes that commitments relating to worker education grants, the review of wages councils and the restoration of the FNPF tripartite board structure have been made previously, but have yet to be fully realised.
The 2026/2027 National Budget will be delivered at 10am next Friday.
