Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya has urged a review of worker salaries in the tourism sector to avert significant skill shortages and brain drain. During a Parliament session last week, Koya raised concerns over troubling data from the Ministry of Tourism regarding the loss of skilled workers, calling for a swift and effective action plan.
He highlighted that nearly 16,000 workers left the tourism industry early last year, creating a substantial skills gap. Koya noted that one proposed solution from the Minister of Tourism, Viliame Gavoka, was to recruit retirees and bring in workers from nearby Pacific island nations, though he questioned the sufficiency of this approach.
Koya emphasized that Fiji has become a target for labor poaching by countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Dubai, suggesting this should motivate the government to enhance employee compensation. He insisted on the necessity of reviewing salaries and providing better benefits to retain local workers, underscoring their value to the nation.
Koya concluded by stressing the critical role of the tourism industry in Fiji’s economy and the need for a collective effort to address these challenges.