This was revealed by Pacific Polytech chairman Dr Ganesh Chand during his presentation on upskilling our labour at the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Annual Business Forum.

“My estimate for the total cost of training 8000 new people for the blue-collar sector is $104million dollars per year,” he said.

“Of $67million can be accounted for government grant and $38million through tuition support – that’s the model of education funding that we have now.

“So, we need to invest $104million per year in new skill development at present prices to skill 8000 new persons.

“Currently all that we are investing in is 3780 and we are spending $42million dollars, and there is a short fall of $62million.

“The funding should come from the countries which are benefitting from our investment in developing the skills of people.

“They are taking $1.2billion worth of our investment, that we can use for those two categories who are the direct producers blue collar workers and the knowledge and skills training.”

Mr Chand said the working life in Fiji had fallen drastically because of migration.

“People migrate between the age of 30 to 35 years. And most of the people migrate with skills at that age.

“The working life is now about 15 years. And if the working life is 15 years in Fiji, then we need to produce 8000 new persons for the labour market each year.

“Unfortunately, the actual skilling over the past years is close to 1500, we did not even meet the 3000 figures, now we need 8000 new persons in the blue-collar skills category.

“So, the major issue, is this matter recognised, or the data is not understood by the planners.”

SOURCE: ELENA VUCUKULA / THE SUNDAY TIMES  27.10.24