DECISIONS MADE AT THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON 14 FEBRUARY 2024

The Peoples’ Coalition Cabinet held its third meeting of 2024 on Wednesday 14th February 2024.
 
The decisions made by Cabinet include the following:
 
Review of Immigration Laws and Regulations
Cabinet approved the review of the legislative framework (laws and subsidiary legislation) governing the Department of Immigration.
 
The legislative framework require modernisation and must be aligned to international standards and best practices.
 
The laws to be reviewed are:
-Immigration Act 2003,
-Immigration Regulations 2007,
-Immigration Directions 1971,
-Citizenship Act 2009,
-Citizenship of Fiji Regulations 2009,
-Citizenship Appeals Tribunal Rules 2021,
-Passport Act 2002,
-Passports (Visa Exemption) Order 2002, and
-Travel Document Regulations 2019.
 
The Department, in partnership with the Office of the Solicitor General, will undertake focused consultations with key stakeholders and extensive national consultations with users of Immigration services, to gather feedback on strengthening the legislative framework governing immigration and citizenship.
 
The outcome of the review process will be tabled in Cabinet.
 
Review of the Nursing Act 2010
Cabinet endorsed the review the Nursing Act 2010 (Act).

This law established the Fiji Nursing Council (Council) and provides for the registration of Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives, and Certified Nurse Practitioners.
 
The Act also established the Fiji College of Nursing to coordinate and facilitate the continuing professional development of the nursing profession.
 
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Council have over the years identified deficiencies in the Act that did not account for developments in the nursing profession. There were also provisions that hindered the full implementation of this law.
 
A number of internal reviews of the Act were commissioned by the Council and these identified the need for a comprehensive review of the Act.
 
Nursing services have evolved as health services and medical technology advanced. The law must now address the advent of new professional positions and cadres that have been introduced into the health system to support and complement the work of registered nurses.
 
These developments in the nursing profession in Fiji must be recognised in law, with the appropriate registration process that will protect these cadres and the patients they serve.
 
In addition, nursing professionals have pursued advanced nursing education and achieved qualifications for their specialist areas of practice. The law must now recognise these new areas of specialist practice for nursing and ensure protection of patients they serve, and the integrity of their nursing practice.
 
The Ministry of Health and Medical Service and the Council will collaborate in undertaking thorough extensive consultations with the public and focused consultations with key stakeholders.
 
The outcome of the review will be brought back to Cabinet for its consideration.
 
Fiji Women’s Economic Empowerment National Action Plan
Cabinet endorsed the development of the National Action Plan for Women’s Economic Empowerment (2024-2029).
 
The empowerment of women is critical for sustainable development and inclusive growth.
 
Women’s economic empowerment is measured by their ability to participate equally in existing markets, access to and control over productive resources, access to decent work, control over their time, lives and bodies, and increased voice, agency and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels from the household to institutions.
 
The challenges faced by women and girls when it comes to effective economic participation have been identified through examination of data and analysis in the Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA) and other sources.
 
These challenges include the following:
-the significant burden of unpaid care and work on women and girls,
-the overrepresentation of women in informal economy,
-the issue of bodily autonomy with high prevalence of gender-based violence and limited access to sexual reproductive health rights,
-the daily impacts of climate crisis,
-limited knowledge, access and productive use of digital technology and e-commerce,
-gender biased policies and regulations and
-discriminatory social norms and behaviours.
 
The FCGA confirms that the economic participation of a large number of women in Fiji is inclined towards low paying jobs (where women earn, on average, one third less than men) within the precarious informal sector.
 
Only 35.2% of women are engaged in paid work in the formal sector while they also account for fewer than three in 10 people engaged in paid employment in the informal sector (28%).
 
The labour force participation rate (LFPR) for the age cohort 15–64 years is 64.1% with a LFPR of 82.6% among men compared with 45.5% LFPR among women.
 
The gender gap of 38% in the LFPR on average, is significant and increases with age. Nearly three quarters of men who are older than the mandatory retirement age were employed (2019-2020) in comparison with only one third of women aged above the mandatory retirement age.
 
Women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQI+ community often experience a lifetime of being marginalised that continues into old age. 62% of the LGBTQI+ community in Fiji are unemployed and in precarious work. 2 out of 3 young LGBT people aged 18-19 years old have experienced homelessness due to their sexual orientation.
 
18% of young People aged 15–24 years are not in education, employment or training (NEET) with young women most affected, at a rate of 30%, three times the rate for young men. However, women outnumber men among students in academic programs at Fiji's universities, accounting for 60-65% of students and over 50% of graduates.
 
There are over 24,000 MSMEs in Fiji that contribute 18% to Fiji’s GDP. About half of these MSMEs are owned by women but only 19% of registered MSMEs list women as the owner. Women-owned businesses are diverse and tend to be concentrated in crowded, low-productivity sectors. Many women prefer to operate their MSMEs in the informal economy. Whether operating a formal or informal business, women entrepreneurs in Fiji face a range of challenges and constraints that limit their ability to start and grow businesses. Some of the key constraints include access to finance, limited access to markets, unaddressed training and support needs and societal and cultural attitude.                      
                                                                                               
Given this background, there is an urgent need for the development and adoption of a whole of government Women’s Economic Empowerment National Action Plan (WEENAP). The Plan will be developed in partnership with key and relevant stakeholders via an inclusive whole-of-government and transformative, evidence-based approach to address structural barriers that limit women's economic participation in Fiji.
 
This includes addressing the three interrelated dimensions that shape women's agency and empowerment:
-their own aspirations and capabilities;
-the environment that surrounds them which may impose limits and conditions; and
-the power relations and norms through which they negotiate their path.
 
The Women’s Economic Empowerment National Action Plan Secretariat includes Civil Society organisations such as the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Women Entrepreneurs Business Council, DIVA for Equality and technical experts from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection will lead the development of the Plan and will chair the Secretariat.
 
The Government of Australia will fund the development of the Plan.
 
Pilot Project for outsourcing of Passport and Visa Services
Cabinet approved the outsourcing of the Fiji Immigration Department’s administrative services.
 
The outsourcing process will commence with two pilot projects which will include the establishment of four passport and visa application centres in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, as well as passport and visa application centres in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa.
 
There will be no direct cost to Government in the outsourcing of these services.
 
Customers will be charged a processing fee for services offered which will not be dissimilar to the fees currently charged by Fiji Missions for undertaking these services for the Department.
 
It is anticipated that customer experiences for passport and visa application will be greatly improved through the outsourcing of administrative services.
 
The Department of Immigration will be liaising with the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Solicitor – General to finalise the successful vendor. Any required legislative amendments will be brought back to Cabinet for approval prior to the commencement of the pilot project.
 
Pilot Project for Anticipatory Action for Tropical Cyclones Funded under the Central Emergency Response Funds in Fiji
Cabinet agreed that Fiji pilot the Project for Anticipatory Action for Tropical Cyclones funded under the Central Emergency Response Funds (CERF). The Ministries of Finance, Women, Children and Social Protection, and the National Disaster Management Office will be coordinating the pilot project with the World Food Programme and other relevant UN agencies.
 
Anticipatory Action (AA) refers to actions triggered before a crisis to mitigate the worst effects of the crisis, or even avoid crisis altogether.
 
AA is a new global concept used in humanitarian aid, climate change, disaster, and climate finance.
 
Fiji is the first country in the Pacific to pilot AA related to tropical cyclones.
 
AA builds on existing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) frameworks that enable actions and financing to be triggered on forecast of impending hazard rather than reacting to its impact.
 
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Centre for Humanitarian Data has been working closely with NDMO and Fiji Meteorological Services (FMS) to design the triggers.
 
The AA project will be triggered by a tropical cyclone that is forecasted by Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Nadi to be a:
 
-Category 4 or 5 while within 250 km of Fiji (The Category in the Australian scale, corresponding to 10-minute sustained wind speeds of >107 kn for Cat 5, 86-107 kn for Cat 4, and 64-85 kn for Cat 3), or
-Category 3, 4, or 5 while making landfall in Fiji.
 
Each time RSMC Nadi produces a tropical cyclone track forecast, it will be evaluated to determine whether the trigger conditions have been met. 
 
The framework follows a 2-stage trigger activation, each part of which is triggered based on the lead time of the points in the forecast:
-Readiness trigger: If any point in the 120-hour forecast meets the trigger conditions, the readiness trigger is met; and
-Action trigger: If any point in the forecast up to a lead time of 72 hours meets the trigger conditions, the activation trigger is met.
 
Upon readiness triggers, CERF funds will be immediately disbursed to UN agencies which can only spend up to 15% of the allocation. The rest can be spent once the activation trigger is activated.
 
UN agencies involved in the pilot project include the World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture (FAO), United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, and International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
 
Survey of Government Institutions on iTaukei Leases to the State
Cabinet endorsed the continuation of Survey of Government institutions on iTaukei land leased to the State, for the next 10 years by the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources.
 
The main objectives of the Project are:
-demarcation and survey of the correct lease boundary of State leases on iTaukei Land for acquisition of registered leases;
-determination of correct ground rentals; and
-prioritisation of survey plans approved to ensure registration of leases to protect Governments interest over the leased areas. 
 
The Project commenced in 2009 for 723 Government stations, with a total coverage of 19,954.98ha.
 
These 723 Government stations are on iTaukei Leases which the Director of Lands has now acquired and/or now leased on behalf of the State. Various government installations including health centres, schools and agricultural stations amongst others, are hosted on these iTaukei land leases. The Ministry will now focus on surveying government leases rather than leases under government statutory entities.
 
The rights of both the State and landowners will continue to be protected during the implementation of this Project.
 
The Project is currently in its 12th year of implementation.
 
iTaukei Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 2024
Cabinet endorsed the iTaukei Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 2024.
 
The Regulations are intended to ensure that the Bose Levu Vakaturaga successfully accomplishes its objectives following its re-establishment by Parliament via the enactment of the iTaukei Affairs Amendment Act No. 25 of 2023, on 28 November 2023.
 
The Regulations elaborate on the functions of the Council and facilitate the appointment of members who will be nominated by Bose Vanua in each Province. The nominees shall be Turaga iTaukei or Marama iTaukei or Liuliu ni Yavusa who have been traditionally installed and recorded as such in the Register of iTaukei Land administered by the iTaukei Lands Commission.
 
Each Province will nominate 3 members to the Council, with an additional 3 members from Rotuma nominated by the Rotuma Island Council. The Regulations encourage the Bose Vanua to nominate women to be members of the GCC.
 
As it did from 1999-2007, the Bose Levu Vakaturaga will under the Regulations appoint a Chairperson from amongst its members. The chairperson holds office for 3 years and is eligible for re-election.

The Regulations provide that the Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs will be the Secretary of the Council.

The Council is scheduled to meet on 28 and 29 February 2024.
 
Change in Name for the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations
Cabinet endorsed a change in name for the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations.
 
Effective from 1 August 2024, the Ministry will be known as the ‘Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations’.
 
The term ‘Workplace Relations’ reflects a modern approach to the Ministry’s core roles.
 
It is built on the foundation of developing a better working relationship between the tripartite partners in harmony and unity championing conducive workplace environments for productivity, social and economic growth and prosperity.
 
Board of Visitors Policy for  State-Administered Aged Care Homes
Cabinet approved the Board of Visitors Policy for State Administered Aged Care Homes situated at Labasa, Lautoka and Suva, and known as Golden Age Homes.
 
The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection (Ministry) took on the responsibility of managing the three state-administered Aged Care Homes from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in 2016.
 
The Board of Visitors Policy for the State Administered Aged Care Homes will enable the Ministry to appoint Board of Visitors for each Home based on merit and importantly, to continue with the business of managing and maintaining the existing utility funds that are managed by interim Boards.
 
Feasibility Study for the Formation of Agricultural Research and Development Institute of Fiji (ARDIF)
 
Cabinet agreed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (Ministry) conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of the Agricultural Research and Development Institute of Fiji (ARDIF).
 
The development of a productive agricultural sector in any country is based on an efficient and vibrant Research and Development (R&D) programme that ensures food and nutrition security for its population.
 
Historically, agricultural crop research and animal research were initiated by the Ministry to develop technologies to assist farmers who lack resources to conduct research to improve their  productivity.
 
With a small island and developing agriculture sector such as Fiji, in comparison to bigger countries, it is economically and technically beneficial to merge research efforts for both crops and livestock and administer these under ARDIF.
 
A task force will be formed within the Ministry to undertake the feasibility study. The taskforce will consult appropriate agencies on the way forward.
 
The outcome of the feasibility study will be tabled in Cabinet once completed.