$23M collected annually for National Training and Productivity Centre Levy - Sayed-Khaiyum

Approximately $23 million dollars is collected annually for the National Training and Productivity Centre Levy.

This has been highlighted by the Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum at the Fiji National University’s 23rd National Convention on Quality at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says that every employer in Fiji contributes 1 percent of their gross income towards National Training and Productivity Centre.

He says that various companies had the opportunity to use or claim from those funds if they are able to train staff and use the courses available at the National Training and Productivity Centre.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says they found problems with this, and they saw that mainly the larger companies source these funds.

He says that government together with FNU made a number of decisions in respect to the levy.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says from next January, 50% of the funds collected through the National Training and Productivity Centre Levy will go towards a trust fund which will be used by government to pay for medical services for those who will go and visit a General Practitioner.

The Attorney General says that the other 40% of the levy will now go towards workers compensation.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says that the other 10 percent will go towards NTPC who currently has a trust fund of approximately $30 million.

He says that this will ensure that NTPC will have courses that are more relevant and are more tuned to meet the demands of smaller and medium businesses.