The Government has put in place opportunities for young Fijians to be empowered and self-sustainable.
Minister for Youth and Sports Parveen Kumar Bala said this is done through the Ministry’s Mobile and Specific Skills empowerment and capacity building training programmes.
While officiating at the Closing of the Empowerment Training on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Toorak today, Minister Bala said the programme was an opportunity for participants to gather and explore the relevant topics so that they may carry these lessons throughout their lives and in every endeavour they undertake.
The three-day training saw a total of 20 youth participants who are members of the Deaf Youth Fiji (DYFiji).
“To encourage employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, Government has allowed tax incentives to employers. This employment incentive is not a short term but a minimum period of three years to ensure that this incentive is beneficial to persons with disabilities in having sustainable employment,” Minister Bala said.
He explained that an employer is allowed a deduction of 400 per cent of the amount of any salary or wages paid for employment of a person with disability for a consecutive period of three years for the employee. This incentive is available if the person with disability has been or will be employed for a consecutive period of three years.
In the event if the person with disability is unfairly dismissed by the employer any deductions previously claimed under the incentive will be recovered.
“This deduction is only available if it is claimed between 1st August 2016 and 23rd December 2023. The employer’s application for registration must be supported by a medical certificate explaining the nature of disability.”