Fiji is a beautiful island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, with a rich and diverse culture, history, and natural resources. It is also a republic with a parliamentary democracy, a member of the Commonwealth, and a partner of Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific region. In this review, we will look at the country and government of Fiji, its achievements and strengths, its comparison with other employers in PNG and in the world, and how wantokjobs.com can assist Fiji in its recruitment needs.
About Fiji
Fiji consists of more than 300 islands and 540 islets, covering an area of about 7,100 square miles (18,300 square km). The two largest islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, which account for about 85% of the land area and population. The capital city is Suva, located on the southeast coast of Viti Levu. The population of Fiji is about 900,000 (2023 estimate), with about 57% being indigenous Fijians (iTaukei), 37% being Indo-Fijians (descendants of Indian indentured labourers), and the rest being other ethnic groups such as Rotumans, Chinese, Europeans, and Pacific Islanders. The official languages are English, Fijian, and Hindi, but there are also many other languages and dialects spoken in the country. The main religions are Christianity (64%), Hinduism (28%), Islam (6%), and others1
Fiji has a complex and turbulent history, marked by colonialism, coups, and constitutional changes. Fiji was first inhabited by Austronesian-speaking people about 3,500 years ago, who developed a sophisticated society based on chiefdoms, clans, and traditions. The first European contact was made by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643, followed by British explorer James Cook in 1774. In 1874, Fiji became a British colony after the local chiefs ceded their sovereignty to Queen Victoria. Fiji gained its independence from Britain in 1970 and became a dominion within the Commonwealth. However, in 1987, two military coups led by Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, who was supported by the Indo-Fijian majority. Rabuka declared Fiji a republic and expelled it from the Commonwealth. A new constitution was adopted in 1990 that favoured the indigenous Fijians over other ethnic groups. In 1997, a revised constitution restored multiethnic representation and allowed Fiji to rejoin the Commonwealth. In 1999, Mahendra Chaudhry became the first Indo-Fijian prime minister after his Fiji Labour Party won the general election. However, in 2000, he was ousted by another coup led by George Speight, a nationalist businessman who held him and other members of parliament hostage for 56 days. The crisis was resolved by Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the commander of the military forces, who declared martial law and appointed an interim government headed by Laisenia Qarase. In 2001, Qarase won the general election and formed a coalition government that included some members of Speight’s group. In 2006, Bainimarama staged another coup against Qarase’s government, accusing it of corruption and racism. He appointed himself as interim prime minister and suspended the constitution. In 2009, after a court ruled that his regime was illegal, he abrogated the constitution and dismissed the judiciary. He promised to hold democratic elections by 2014. In 2013, a new constitution was promulgated that granted immunity to Bainimarama and his supporters for their role in the coup. In 2014, Bainimarama resigned from the military and formed his own political party called FijiFirst. He won the general election with 60% of the vote and became the first elected prime minister since 2006. He was reelected in 2018 with a reduced majority of 50%12
Fiji has a mixed economy that relies on tourism, sugar production, remittances from overseas workers, fisheries, mining, manufacturing, and services. Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange and employment, contributing about 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and supporting about 150,000 jobs. Fiji attracts about 800,000 visitors annually, mainly from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Europe. Fiji offers a variety of attractions such as beaches, coral reefs, rainforests, waterfalls, cultural festivals, and adventure sports.
Sugar production is the second largest export earner and employer in Fiji, accounting for about 12% of the GDP and supporting about 200,000 people. Fiji produces about 200,000 tonnes of raw sugar annually, mainly for export to the European Union (EU), the United States, and other Pacific countries. Fiji also produces molasses, ethanol, and other by-products from sugar cane. However, the sugar industry faces several challenges such as low productivity, high costs, aging infrastructure, environmental impacts, and preferential market access. The government has implemented various reforms and initiatives to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the sugar industry.
Remittances from overseas workers are another important source of income and foreign exchange for Fiji, amounting to about 5% of the GDP. About 10% of the population lives abroad, mainly in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Many of them work in sectors such as health care, education, security, construction, hospitality, and agriculture. The government has encouraged and facilitated the migration of skilled and semi-skilled workers through bilateral agreements, visa schemes, and training programs. The government has also supported the welfare and integration of Fijians living overseas through its diaspora policy and outreach activities.
Fisheries are another significant sector in Fiji’s economy, contributing about 2% of the GDP and employing about 50,000 people. Fiji has a large exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of about 1.3 million square km that is rich in marine resources such as tuna, mahi-mahi, marlin, swordfish, lobster, shrimp, and seaweed. Fiji exports about 80% of its fish catch, mainly to Japan, the United States, Australia, and the EU. Fiji also has a growing aquaculture industry that produces pearls, tilapia, seaweed, and prawns. The government has implemented various policies and programs to support the development and management of the fisheries sector, such as improving infrastructure, enhancing quality and safety standards, promoting value addition and diversification, strengthening surveillance and enforcement, and protecting marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
Mining is another important sector in Fiji’s economy, contributing about 2% of the GDP and employing about 3,000 people. Fiji has deposits of gold, copper, silver, bauxite, manganese, and other minerals that are exploited by local and foreign companies. The largest mine in Fiji is the Vatukoula gold mine, which has been operating since 1934 and produces about 40,000 ounces of gold annually. Other mines include the Namosi copper-gold project, the Wainivesi zinc-copper-gold project, the Nawailevu bauxite mine, and the Sigatoka iron sand project. The government has established a legal and regulatory framework for the mining sector that aims to balance the interests of investors, communities, and the environment. The government has also promoted transparency and accountability in the mining sector through its participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Manufacturing is another significant sector in Fiji’s economy, contributing about 10% of the GDP and employing about 30,000 people. Fiji produces a variety of goods such as sugar products, beverages, food products, garments, footwear, furniture, paper products, chemicals, plastics, cement, steel, and machinery. Fiji also has a niche market for handicrafts such as mats, baskets, pottery, carvings, paintings, and jewellery. Fiji exports most of its manufactured goods to Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and other Pacific countries. The government has supported the development and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector through various incentives, policies, and programs such as tax holidays, duty exemptions, export promotion, quality assurance, industrial zones, and skills development.
Services are the largest and fastest growing sector in Fiji’s economy, contributing about 70% of the GDP and employing about 70% of the workforce. The services sector includes subsectors such as tourism, transport, communication, finance, education, health, retail, wholesale, and public administration. The government has invested in improving the infrastructure, technology, regulation, and innovation of the services sector to enhance its efficiency and quality. The government has also facilitated the integration of Fiji’s services sector into the regional and global markets through trade agreements, cooperation frameworks, and standards harmonization.
Significant Achievements and Key Strengths
Fiji has achieved several milestones and demonstrated its strengths in various aspects of its country and government. Some examples are:
- In 2020, Fiji became the first COVID-19 contained country in the Pacific region after successfully eliminating local transmission of the virus. The government implemented swift and strict measures such as border closures, lockdowns, testing, tracing, isolation, and vaccination to prevent and control the spread of the virus. The government also provided economic and social support to the affected sectors and populations such as tourism workers, informal workers, farmers, women, children, and elderly. As of June 2021, Fiji has recorded 2 deaths and 2,500 cases out of a total of 120,000 tests.
- In 2021, Fiji became the first Pacific island country to issue a sovereign green bond to finance its climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. The bond raised $100 million Fijian dollars (about $50 million US dollars) from domestic and international investors. The bond has a maturity of five years and a coupon rate of 6.3%. The bond is aligned with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles and has been certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative. The bond will support projects such as renewable energy generation, energy efficiency improvement, energy efficiency improvement, water supply and sanitation improvement, coastal protection and rehabilitation, and sustainable agriculture and forestry.
- In 2021, Fiji also became the first Pacific island country to chair the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the highest intergovernmental body on human rights in the world. Fiji’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Nazhat Shameem Khan, was elected as the president of the UNHRC for the year 2021. She pledged to uphold the principles of impartiality, transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in her role. She also highlighted the importance of addressing the human rights impacts of climate change, especially for small island developing states.
- Fiji has a strong and vibrant civil society that plays an active role in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, good governance, peace, and development in the country and the region. Fiji has over 500 civil society organizations (CSOs) that work on various issues such as gender equality, women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, environmental conservation, social justice, health, education, and humanitarian assistance. Some of the leading CSOs in Fiji include: the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM), the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum (CCF), the Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding (PCP), the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), and the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS).
- Fiji has a competitive advantage in producing and exporting high-quality and organic agricultural products that meet the demand of health-conscious consumers in the global market. Fiji produces and exports a variety of products such as sugar, coconut oil, ginger, turmeric, kava, vanilla, cocoa, honey, taro, cassava, and fruits. Fiji also has a niche market for handicrafts such as masi (bark cloth), tapa (printed cloth), salusalu (flower garlands), and voivoi (pandanus mats). Fiji has established various standards and certifications for its products such as organic, fair trade, halal, gluten-free, and vegan. Fiji has also developed its own brand and logo called “Fijian Made” to promote its products and services in the domestic and international markets.
Comparison with Other Employers in PNG
Fiji is one of the most developed and diversified economies in the Pacific region, offering a range of career opportunities for people who are interested in working in a dynamic and multicultural environment. Fiji employs over 300,000 people across various sectors such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, services, and public administration.
Fiji offers competitive salaries and benefits to its employees, as well as opportunities for training and professional development. Fiji also values diversity and inclusion in its workforce, promoting equal opportunities for women and men, as well as people from different ethnic groups and regions. Fiji also supports the welfare and wellbeing of its employees, providing a safe and healthy work environment, as well as social security and health insurance schemes.
Fiji faces some challenges as an employer in the Pacific region, such as attracting and retaining qualified and skilled staff, especially in sectors that face skills shortages or high turnover rates such as tourism, health, education, and engineering. Fiji also has to deal with issues such as political instability, natural disasters, climate change, and COVID-19 pandemic that may affect its performance and productivity. Fiji strives to overcome these challenges by investing in its human resources development strategies, improving its governance and resilience systems, enhancing its regional and international cooperation, and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence among its staff.
Comparison with Other Employers in the World
Fiji is one of the most attractive and reputable employers in the world, offering a range of career opportunities for people who are interested in working in a tropical paradise with a friendly and hospitable culture. Fiji attracts over 10,000 expatriates from over 100 countries who work in various sectors such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, services, and public administration.
Fiji offers competitive salaries and benefits to its expatriate employees, as well as opportunities for training and professional development. Fiji also values diversity and inclusion in its workforce, promoting equal opportunities for women and men, as well as people from different ethnic groups and regions. Fiji also supports the welfare and wellbeing of its expatriate employees, providing a safe and healthy work environment, as well as visa facilitation and relocation assistance services.
Fiji faces some challenges as an employer in the world, such as attracting and retaining qualified and skilled expatriate staff, especially in sectors that face global competition or high demand such as tourism, health, education, and engineering. Fiji also has to deal with issues such as political instability, natural disasters, climate change, and COVID-19 pandemic that may affect its performance and productivity. Fiji strives to overcome these challenges by investing in its human resources development strategies, improving its governance and resilience systems, enhancing its regional and international cooperation, and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence among its staff.
How Wantokjobs.com Can Assist Recruitment Using Its Features
Wantokjobs.com is PNG’s latest online job board with advanced recruitment and jobseeker features. It is a platform that connects employers with potential candidates who are looking for jobs or career opportunities in PNG or other Pacific Island countries. Wantokjobs.com can assist Fiji in its recruitment needs using its features such as:
- Job posting: Wantokjobs.com allows employers to post their job vacancies online using an easy-to-use interface that lets them customize their job descriptions, requirements, benefits, locations, categories, and keywords. Employers can also upload their company logos or banners to enhance their brand visibility and attract more applicants.
- Job alerts: Wantokjobs.com enables employers to create job alerts that notify them via email or SMS whenever a new jobseeker registers or applies for their posted jobs. Employers can also set their preferences for the frequency and type of alerts they want to receive.
- Resume database: Wantokjobs.com provides employers with access to a database of resumes from registered jobseekers who are actively or passively looking for jobs. Employers can search, filter, and sort resumes by various criteria such as skills, qualifications, experience, location, and availability. Employers can also download, print, or email resumes to their colleagues or contacts.
- Applicant tracking system: Wantokjobs.com offers employers a user-friendly and efficient applicant tracking system that allows them to manage their recruitment process online. Employers can view, rate, shortlist, contact, and schedule interviews with applicants using the system. Employers can also track the status and progress of each applicant and provide feedback or updates to them.
- Employer dashboard: Wantokjobs.com gives employers a comprehensive and interactive dashboard that displays various statistics and insights on their recruitment activities. Employers can monitor and analyze their job postings, applications, views, clicks, conversions, and ratings using the dashboard. Employers can also edit, renew, or delete their job postings using the dashboard.
- Employer profile: Wantokjobs.com enables employers to create and update their profile page that showcases their company information, culture, values,
- Employer profile: Wantokjobs.com enables employers to create and update their profile page that showcases their company information, culture, values, vision, mission, goals, achievements, awards, testimonials, and social media links. Employers can also upload photos or videos of their workplace, products, services, events, or projects to enhance their profile. Employers can use their profile page to attract and engage potential candidates who are interested in working for them.
Conclusion
The country and government of Fiji is a remarkable and respected employer in the Pacific region and in the world. It has a long history and a strong reputation of delivering quality services and products to its citizens and customers. It also has a clear vision and a strategic plan to achieve its development goals and aspirations.
The country and government of Fiji offers rewarding and challenging career opportunities for people who are interested in working in a tropical paradise with a friendly and hospitable culture. It also provides competitive salaries and benefits, as well as training and professional development opportunities for its employees. It also values diversity and inclusion in its workforce and supports the welfare and wellbeing of its employees.
Wantokjobs.com is an ideal partner for Fiji in its recruitment needs. It is a modern and innovative online job board that connects employers with qualified and talented candidates who are looking for jobs or career opportunities in PNG or other Pacific Island countries. It also offers advanced features that make the recruitment process easier, faster, and more effective for employers.
If you are interested in working for Fiji or learning more about its activities and achievements, you can visit its official website or follow its social media pages on Facebook or Twitter . You can also check out its current job vacancies on wantokjobs.com or register your resume on the platform to get notified of future opportunities.
We hope you enjoyed this review of Fiji and found it informative and helpful. We encourage you to explore more about the country and government of Fiji and the various employers and jobs available in this sector. We also invite you to visit wantokjobs.com to find your dream job or career in PNG or other Pacific Island countries.
Sources:
: https://www.fiji.gov.fj/ : https://www.facebook.com/FijianGovt : https://twitter.com/FijianGovt : https://www.britannica.com/place/Fiji : https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/fiji/overview : https://www.wantokjobs.com/ : https://www.wantokjobs.com/jobs/?search_keywords=fiji : https://www.wantokjobs.com/ : https://www.fao.org/fishery/facp/FJI/en : https://www.fijitimes.com/fiji-launches-its-first-sovereign-green-bond/ : https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082722 : https://fijianmade.gov.fj/ : https://www.civilsocietyfiji.org/ : http://www.incafe.go.cr/ : https://www.ico.org/ : https://www.starbucks.com/ : https://www.wantokjobs.com/employer-dashboard/