Government through the Ministry of Labour will continue the second phase of the national minimum wage baseline survey of other workers not covered under the Wages Regulation Orders (WROs) but involved in Individual Bargaining (IB) between employers and workers.
The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment Mr Jone Usamate pointed out that the survey will be for domestic workers, caregivers, backyard garage workers, tailors, home pre-school teachers, car wash workers and etc.
The survey will begin tomorrow, the 7th of August 2013 in the central division beginning in Suva followed by Nasinu, Nausori. Surveys to be carried out in the Western and Northern Division will be conducted by the Ministry of Labour officers.
“This will result in the determination and introduction of a national minimum wage, the hourly rate below which all sectorial minimum wage rate must be allowed to fall,” Minister Usamate said.
The Minister said that the survey will assess the existing wage levels in Fiji’s labour market including conditions of employment in the context of the requirements under the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007 (ERP) against the backdrop of the economy.
This is in line with Government’s commitment under the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (PCCP) towards reducing poverty to a negligible level by 2015 and at the same enhancing productivity.
The Labour Ministry seeks the support and cooperation of employment providers in accomplishing this significant task that will propel out country forward to where both workers and employers fully benefit from the fruit of their labour.
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