.gif)
The five month delay in the Wage Regulation Order will help avoid further job losses in the garment industry, says Textile Clothing and Footwear Council of Fiji president Kalpesh Solanki.
Welcoming the postponement, Solanki said the Council agreed with interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s decision to defer the wage increases by five months in light of the depressed economic climate and downturn in export markets.
“We agree with the interim Prime Minister that Fiji needs to increase investment and economic activity so that more jobs can be created. First step to poverty alleviation is to target achievement of full employment in Fiji,” Solanki said.
He said while the wage increase deferment was welcome news for the TCF industry, “we remain committed to working together with our workers to find ways to cope with these difficult times”.
“After all, it’s the hardworking 5000-odd workers, most of whom are women, who are making a significant contribution to Fiji’s economy,” Solanki said.
He said the TCF industry was very important to poverty alleviation in Fiji as it mainly employed the “working poor” who would otherwise have very few, if not, any alternative means of earning an income.
Earlier this month, Solanki revealed that over 300 jobs had been lost in Fiji’s textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry as a result of the 20 per cent minimum wage rate increase.
And he warned that a further 800 to 1000 jobs was expected to be lost in the next six months should the announced wage increases was implemented, coupled with a depressed economic condition.
