$343.1M paid in direct cash assistance so far - AG

The government has paid out $343.1 million in direct cash assistance to affected Fijians so far.

This also includes the government top-up through the Fiji National Provident Fund.

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they recently paid $105 million to 294,745 people under the $360 unemployment assistance.

Sayed-Khaiyum says around 89,428 of these people were between the ages of 18 and 30 while 125,501 people were between the ages of 31 and 50.

He also says 16.6% which is about 48,829 of the people were from Nasinu.

The Minister for Economy says they expect these numbers to drop in the next payout because more people will return to work as the economy opens up.

The second round of the $360 assistance will be disbursed from the 2nd of November.