National Federation Party MP Parmod Chand has claimed in parliament that the cost of doing business in Fiji is very expensive because of new legislations, rules and regulations.
He says the government of the day is embarking on modernization of Fiji, businesses and even modernization of buses.
He says it is about electric buses, euro 5 fuel buses and all these are very complicated issues.
Chand who is also the owner of a bus company in Labasa has claimed that there are hardly any mechanics, technicians and repair men that would be able to handle these buses in Fiji.
Chand later withdrew his statement where he had said that they are paying about $100,000 every year to the Fiji National University as levy.
He did this after Minister for Employment, Jone Usamate raised a point of order saying Chand was misleading parliament.
Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Chand has failed to highlight there is now an opportunity for all employers to claim 150% tax deduction.
Sayed-Khaiyum says Chand has already admitted that currently courses are not relevant and the courses they want are not relevant.
He says they already had a discussion with the Vice Chancellor of the Fiji National University and have stated to them that some of the courses that are not being offered should be made available.
He says the FNU has agreed.
The Minister of Economy has also confirmed that there is $30M sitting in the trust at FNU which has been collected as levy from employers and they already have an agreement as to how the FNU will develop better courses.
Meanwhile, a bill for an act to repeal the workers compensation act of 1964 has been passed.
Sayed-Khaiyum says this will now facilitate a comprehensive effective transition to the no fault compensation scheme under the Accident Compensation Act 2017 for workplace related accidents.
He says this will also allow for the extension of the no fault compensation scheme under the act to accidents occurring on any school premises.
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