Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, has underscored the vital need to enhance technical and vocational training in Fiji as a strategic measure to reduce dependence on foreign labor. His commentary reflects the government’s ongoing initiatives to cultivate and retain local skills while addressing labor shortages in critical sectors. Professor Prasad pointed out that technical and vocational education is essential for empowering local talent to take on significant roles that are often occupied by foreign workers.
While acknowledging that foreign labor is sometimes necessary due to a lack of local expertise in certain areas, he assured that there are measures in place to ensure such practices serve the national interest. He also noted that although foreign workers contribute to the economy, the remittances they send back home are significantly lower than those remitted by Fijians employed abroad. This observation highlights the importance of fostering local job opportunities to boost the economy.
Supporting this initiative, Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to investing in technical and vocational institutions to better equip the local workforce. He indicated that various scholarships are available in crucial fields aimed at bridging existing skill gaps, with multiple providers contributing to this effort.
The concerns raised by Dr. Ganesh Chand, chairperson of Pacific Polytech, regarding the elevated unemployment rates among unskilled indigenous Fijians resonate in this context. Dr. Chand pointed out the high number of untrained individuals and suggested that many jobs currently held by immigrant workers could be sufficiently filled by locally trained citizens. His calls for substantial investment in skill training align with the government’s efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education, advocating for a national strategy to effectively address these challenges.
Labor shortages have become a pressing issue, particularly in industries such as tourism and construction, which rely heavily on skilled labor. Minister Manoa Kamikamica reiterated the urgency for educational outcomes to align with industry needs, advocating for a shift towards more comprehensive workforce training to stimulate economic growth.
Within this framework, stakeholders emphasize the potential of vocational training to empower individuals and bolster economic resilience. The government’s dedication to transforming the training landscape presents a promising outlook for Fiji’s workforce, suggesting an enhanced opportunity for youth employment and a more resilient economy, contingent upon the successful execution of these initiatives.