Fiji Times Wednesday 27 September 2017 EMPLOYERS must act immediately and ensure their workers receive their lawful entitlements from the new minimum wage rate during the first pay period after September 30.
This was stressed by Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Jone Usamate, while meeting the Savusavu Chamber of Commerce and community members yesterday.
The new minimum wage rate for both informal and formal sectors come into effect from 30 September, 2017.
“All employers are aware of the new increase and the new wage rate that applies to their businesses that they must comply with,” he said in a statement.
Mr Usamate further explained that the national minimum wage was for unskilled workers and was also to accommodate the needs of Small and Micro Enterprises (SME).
“The increase is a way that lowest paid workers gets some form of increase and also that the SMEs can afford to pay their workers,” he said.
“Increasing the national minimum wage too high can destroy the SMEs and can also affect inflation.”
