Fiji’s Finance, Commerce and Business Development Minister Esrom Immanuel has placed human resource professionals at the centre of the nation’s economic strategy, warning that retaining talent will be decisive for the country’s development. Speaking at the Fiji Human Resources Institute Annual Convention 2026 at the Sofitel in Nadi yesterday, Immanuel told delegates that Fiji’s “greatest strength lies in its people” and urged HR practitioners to lead innovation in workplace practices to keep skilled workers at home.
Immanuel singled out the tourism industry as an example of Fiji’s competitive advantage, saying that while many destinations share similar natural assets, it is “the warmth and professionalism of Fijian workers” that sets the country apart. But he stressed that advantage is under threat: Fiji has lost “around 100,000 people to overseas opportunities in recent years,” a migration of skilled workers he said must be addressed if growth targets are to be met.
Highlighting what he described as a mistake among some employers to rely primarily on pay to retain staff, Immanuel said salary is not enough. “Job satisfaction, feeling valued and respected often matters more than remuneration,” he told the convention. He encouraged HR leaders to prioritise supportive, fulfilling work environments where employees feel recognised and engaged.
To modernise workplaces, Immanuel urged organisations to adopt flexible working arrangements and shift how productivity is measured — from time spent in the office to outputs delivered. He also pressed for greater adoption of technology, including artificial intelligence, and for continuous upskilling so Fiji’s workforce remains globally competitive. Those steps, he argued, should be driven by HR as much as by ministers and business owners.
The Minister framed his remarks in the context of the country’s economic outlook, saying medium‑term growth is projected at about three percent and that job opportunities will expand across key sectors. That projection sits alongside earlier government plans such as the National Development Plan and Vision 2050, which have emphasised human capital and the need to diversify the economy to reduce dependence on traditional sectors.
Immanuel’s comments come as part of a broader policy push that has included a national digital plan and efforts to harness e‑government and automation — initiatives previously promoted by government ministers as ways to boost productivity. His appeal for HR-driven workplace reform indicates a sharpening focus on non‑wage factors in talent retention and suggests the government sees institutional and cultural workplace changes as essential to reversing brain drain and sustaining growth.
Addressing HR practitioners directly, Immanuel called on them to be “innovators of workplace practices,” positioning them as central actors in a national effort to translate policy ambition into on-the-ground improvements in employee experience and productivity. The convention provided a platform for the minister to underline that human resource management will be a practical lever in meeting Fiji’s development objectives in the coming years.
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