The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has commended the recently announced minimum wage increase, contrasting it with the previous government’s lack of action in this area.
Speaking in Parliament, Singh highlighted the dedication required to implement a 25 percent increase in the minimum wage as part of the new budget.
“It took the previous government five years to raise the minimum wage from $2.68 to $4.00. Our government has managed to increase it by 25 percent in just two years,” Singh stated.
He also mentioned that the wage hike would apply to the 10 sectorial wages as well.
Singh pointed out another significant aspect of the new budget: a $9.2 million payment towards the Vatukoula Mine strike, with each of the 368 affected mining workers set to receive $25,000.
“We have made a meaningful impact on the lives of 368 families in Vatukoula who were affected by the 1991 strike. They will receive $10,000 in the upcoming budget, followed by another $10,000 the next year,” Singh said.