Fiji introduces measure to reduce dependency on foreign labor

18/1/2025 13:15

The Fijian government has implemented a series of strategic measures to build local capacity and reduce dependence on foreign labor, said the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Biman Prasad.



He said this in response to queries about the outflow of remittances by foreign workers in Fiji to their family members abroad, reported Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on Friday.



Prasad said the outflow of remittances by foreign workers sending money to their families back home was a common and expected global trend.



He pointed out that Fiji faced unique challenges due to a substantial imbalance between the money flowing out and what the country received through remittances. To address this economic challenge, Prasad said the government had implemented a series of strategic measures to build resilience and reduce dependency on foreign labor.



According to the deputy prime minister, a cornerstone of this approach was a renewed focus on education, training and workforce development.



One key initiative has been the reform of the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme, which resulted in the government writing off 650 million Fijian dollars in student debt, relieving 53,000 families of financial stress.



In tandem with debt forgiveness, the government has increased its investment in scholarships, particularly in technical fields.