Director ILO,
Representatives of the MSME Community,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to everyone.
It is my pleasure to join this virtual session organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
I thank the ILO for giving us another opportunity to share with you the Fijian Government’s efforts during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Fijian Government’s COVID-19 transmission suppression strategy during this third wave has been a Vaccine plus approach. We have heard from experts that this strategy, especially in a highly vaccinated society like Fiji, is critical to protecting the vulnerable and suppressing transmission.
But vaccination alone cannot work.
What we need is a two-step approach, which involves:
(1) having our eligible population fully vaccinated plus a booster shot and;
(2) strictly adhering to COVID-safe measures, that is, masking up, sanitising, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, to name a few.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I am sure you all know, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), developed a series of COVID-safe protocols and guidelines for Fijian businesses to continue operating.
The Ministry is acutely aware of the challenges businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) faced when there was a lockdown.
The protocols were one of the strategies the Fijian Government developed and implemented to reopen and reignite the flames of an economic comeback. To ensure that businesses operations are within the established protocols the COVID Safe Ambassador or CSA programme began in July 2021.
The CSA programme was an avenue to provide advice to business operators on these COVID-safe protocols.
These protocols have now evolved and expanded to provide guidance and health safety measures for enhanced ventilation, parameters which high risk businesses can use to safely operate with customer interface and most recently guidelines on outdoor social gatherings and independent event halls and hire venues.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Just as the protocols have evolved, so have the role of the CSAs and the regulations, which preside over our health measures.
As at 10 January 2022, in addition to the MCTTT, MHMS, Fiji Police Force and Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission, the Land Transport Authority of Fiji and Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji are authorised enforcement officers or CSAs.
The CSAs will work with you to improve compliance with the protocols, to make your operations COVID-safe and we ask for your cooperation and partnership.
However, when we do not see businesses taking concrete steps to improve and make their operations COVID-safe, then our Ambassadors will issue infringement notices or close down your business, if you continue to breach and disregard the health and safety measures put in place to protect everyone.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Through the CSA programme, we have monitored more than 6,000 businesses around Fiji. Of which 40 percent are in the Central Division, 44 percent in the Western Division and 16 percent in the Northern Division. It is disappointing that the results of the monitoring indicate sheer negligence and disregard of rules and protocols.
The Fijian Government has worked hard to develop protocols and rules, which will enable businesses to continue. But, we are not seeing the commitment from the business community.
You all must remember that we cannot operate in the same way we did pre-COVID. We have to change our ways and this requires commitment from you all.
To provide you with some statistics:
- 62 percent or 3,720 of high risk businesses inspected do not use the Vax-Check tool to verify customer’s vaccination status before allowing them into their premises.
- 41 percent or 2,460 businesses does not practice temperature check at their business entrance;
- 35 percent or 2,100 business do not sanitise their customers before entering the premises; and
- 43 percent or 2,580 businesses do not check their patrons for the careFIJI app.
To curb this trend and ensure that those businesses that are complying with the protocols are not disadvantaged, the CSAs have moved from awareness and guidance to enforcement.
As of 8 January 2021, we have issued approximately 48 Public Health Infringement Notices to businesses who failed to comply with regulated COVID measures and we have closed more than 5 businesses for operating without a permit. Out of the 48 fixed COVID penalties, 32 are business related.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We wish to remind all Fijians that penalties have been enforced for no other purpose but to eliminate the possibility of COVID-19 transmissions within our community. That is why businesses are strongly encouraged to continue to improve and maintain adherence to COVID-safe measures.
To reduce the statistics and in our joint efforts to minimise the spread of COVID-19, we have had to strengthen our enforcement, through introduction of new regulated fines to ensure that businesses must continue to practice COVID safety.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
These protocols will remain in place until we are completely sure of COVID-19 and its variants are no longer a threat. We will be guided by our health indicators, and when it is safe to relax protocols we will do so. Until then all Fijians, especially businesses must adapt to the protocol and ensure compliance to best protect our loved ones and those most vulnerable in our community.
Once again I would like to thank the ILO for facilitating this session. Such forums/dialogues between the MSME community and the Fijian Government are important to ensure a collaborative approach and demonstrate how valuable your contributions are in developing policies.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to reassure you all, that the Fijian Government is not considering lockdown measures and we will not close our borders.
Therefore, it is important that we come together as a society and collaborate to implement the basic COVID-safe measures for our safety and the safety of those we interact with.
The COVID-19 is here to stay, so we must adapt our ways of doing things. We must operate in a COVID-safe manner.
If you have completed 5 months from your second vaccine shot, then get your booster shot. With protection offered by vaccines and COVID-safe behaviour inculcated in everyone, we will ensure a strong comeback.
With these words, I wish you well in today’s forum and I look forward to concrete outcomes from the session today. Outcomes that will support the Fijian Government in further policy development for MSMEs.
Do not make this a session where you only identify problems – you should be solutions focused. Let’s make this partnership that will achieve the desired results for the country.
Vinaka Vakalevu and Thank you.