Early payment for the Govt’s second round of the $360 assistance

The disbursement of the second round of Government's $360 unemployment assistance is currently underway.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Economy Shiri Gounder says 203,000 people have qualified for the second round of the assistance so far with a total payout of $73.1 million.

Gounder says the Ministry of Economy has started with an early disbursement, 5 days earlier than what was initially announced.

He says people that applied for the assistance before receiving their second dose of the vaccine are still eligible to receive the assistance as long as they meet all the criteria and receive their second jab before Sunday.

Gounder adds the number of eligible Fijians is expected to increase in the days ahead.

He says all payments are expected to be made before 4th November.