The Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) is continuing its campaign for an $8-an-hour living wage, maintaining that many Fijian workers remain trapped below the poverty line despite being employed.

National Secretary Felix Anthony says the campaign goes beyond advocating for a higher minimum wage, calling instead for a living wage that allows workers and their families to meet their basic needs and live with dignity.

Anthony says the current minimum wage is insufficient to keep up with the rising cost of living, leaving many workers struggling to afford essentials such as food, housing and other daily expenses.

He says the union is not calling for an immediate increase to $8 an hour, but is urging the government to introduce a clear, phased plan that gradually raises wages to a living wage.

He says annual reviews should also be introduced to ensure wages keep pace with the cost of living and do not fall below the poverty line.

While acknowledging the economic challenges facing Fiji and the rest of the world, Anthony says difficult economic conditions should not become a permanent reason for delaying action on workers’ wages.

He says workers have repeatedly been told that “the time is not right” for wage increases, while many continue to struggle to make ends meet.

Anthony believes a living wage would be one of the most effective measures to reduce poverty, saying it would improve living standards for thousands of low-income families across the country.

The FTUC had hoped the recent National Budget would include a roadmap towards progressively increasing the minimum wage to a living wage. However, Anthony says no such commitment was made.