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The chairman of Fiji’s Wages Council Father Kevin Barr is expecting a wage increase in mid 2010.
Speaking to FijiLive, Fr Barr said all the wages councils met and resolved that there be an increase from July 1.
“We are trying to be fair to the employers but at the same time, we want to be just to the workers,” he said.
He highlighted that according to the current poverty line, the minimum wage rate has to be $175 per week.
“It’s a disgrace that 60 percent of workers covered by the wages council are earning below that,” Father Barr said.
“With the 20 percent devaluation that took place last year, the purchasing power went down as well.”
He added the People’s Charter for Change stated the need for a National Minimum wage in accordance to the poverty line.
“Our job is to see workers get a gradual increase until the National Minimum income comes into effect,” he said.
The ten Wages Councils are: Wages Council for Road and Transport; Wholesale and Retail Trades; Building, Civil and Electrical Engineering; Hotel and Catering Trades; Manufacturing Industry; Printing Trades; Sawmilling and Logging Industry; Mining and Quarrying Industry; Garment Industry; and Security Services.
