Around 1,000 new jobs created under the Stronger Together Job Support scheme since November

Around 1,000 new jobs were created under the Stronger Together Job Support scheme since the initiative began in November last year.

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they will continue with the initiative in the new financial year and have allocated $5 million for its continuation.

Sayed-Khaiyum says government has so far spent $3 million on this initiative and around 48 employers have participated in the scheme.

Under this scheme, employers are granted a wage subsidy by government equivalent to the minimum wage rate of $2.68 for a three-month period when they employ eligible Fijians who did not have a job before COVID-19.

This is particularly for people in the informal sector.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds they are also providing $1 million dollars for retaining and reskilling people through the Fiji National University.