I do not know whether NFP and SODELPA will definitely implement $5 minimum wage rate for unskilled workers - Sayed-Khaiyum

The Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum has stated that he does not know whether NFP and SODELPA will definitely implement a $5 minimum wage rate for unskilled workers if they come into power.

While responding to Ashwin Dutt, an employee of Cope Construction, who posed the question on whether NFP and SODELPA will keep their word of implementing the $5 minimum wage rate for unskilled workers if they come into power, Sayed‑Khaiyum said that if these parties do implement the $5 minimum wage rate it will be disastrous.

Sayed‑Khaiyum reiterated that the minimum wage rate is for the unskilled workers.

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad earlier said that NFP has already proposed that if they come into government, they will institute a minimum living wage of $5 an hour.

SODELPA provisional candidate Lynda Tabuya had said that a $4 an hour rate for the national minimum wage would be a start towards human decency.

The Fiji Labour Party had earlier come out with a Social Package for the 2018 general election which promises an increase in the minimum wage rate to $3.50 per hour.

HOPE Party Leader, Tupou Draunidalo had earlier said that they will implement a $10 minimum wage rate if they form government however she also says that it will not be forced on employers.

Meanwhile, the national wage rate for the informal sector is $2.68 and there are also ten separate industry wages councils with varying minimum wage rates for the different sectors.