Telecom Fiji information system GIS Engineer Shweta Sharma has urged that more days be set aside for family care leave to help women balance work and personal commitments. Speaking at the Pacific Fiber Conference and training in Nadi earlier this month, Sharma addressed how women in technology juggle demanding roles with family time.
Sharma stressed that a woman’s support system must be very strong. “I was able to try because my mom was supportive, my partner was supportive,” she said. “We are fighting our own battles while even doing meetings or while making reports or capturing data.” She also highlighted the importance of flexibility, suggesting that increasing family care leave could make a difference and that the government could take the lead on such initiatives.
Echoing Sharma, Telstra InfraCo Delivery principal and conference panellist Michelle Impey emphasized flexibility as a cornerstone of progress. “Telstra is very flexible, and Australia’s moving to a far more flexible working environment now it’s Telstra mantra—it’s not where you work, it’s how you work,” Impey noted. She added that flexible working is something they actively encourage and that gender-neutral paid parental leave is a positive step, though she cautioned that it must be supported and rolled out effectively. Impey also acknowledged the guilt many working mothers experience when away from family for extended periods, urging colleagues to give each other a break and to be understanding.
The conversations come amid a broader national discussion in Fiji about expanding family care leave. Parliament is considering proposals to reinstate a three-day family care leave, with the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations conducting nationwide public consultations. The legislation would restore more generous leave rights for employees caring for immediate family members incapacitated by illness, injury, or medical conditions, while removing the term “household” to narrow eligibility to immediate family members. This reform runs alongside other welfare measures, including the Childcare and Protection Bill 2024, which seeks to address the rising number of children in residential care and strengthen family-based support.
In related developments, government officials have highlighted complementary strategies to empower women and families. For instance, the concept of care blocks—one-stop centers offering empowerment programs, vocational training, healthcare, childcare services, and mental health support—has been discussed as a model Fiji could adapt with collaborative input from local government and inter-ministerial cooperation. The overarching aim is to create a more supportive environment for caregivers, enabling women to pursue work in technology and other sectors while balancing family responsibilities.
Overall, Sharma’s call for more family-friendly leave intersects with Fiji’s ongoing policy discussions to expand protections and support for working families. The momentum across government, tech industries, and civil society points to a hopeful path toward more flexible workplaces and stronger social welfare for women in Fiji.
Summary: A Fiji tech professional has called for increased family care leave to help balance work and family, aligning with national moves to reinstate three-day family care leave and broader efforts to empower women through flexible work, supportive policies, and integrated care solutions.
Positive note: The dialogue signals momentum toward more inclusive, family-conscious workplaces that can boost retention, productivity, and gender equity across sectors. Potential follow-ups could explore how firms implement flexible schedules, the uptake of family care leave among tech employees, and the practical rollout of care blocks and related reforms.
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