The Fiji Employers Federation is considering a plan to conduct an industry wide survey to judge worker shortages in the country. These shortages are generally in specific fields. Every year Fuji sees an erosion of brain drain to Middle Eastern and European countries. Nurses, teachers and accountants are most popular in this list. Many individuals work for security companies as well. The main reason for overseas emigration is better lifestyle and higher wages.
These workers also remit large amounts of money back into the country. Education Ministry is especially concerned due to emigration of teachers in a large number. These losses are being seen both in private and public sectors. Brain drain is a term used to describe the emigration of skilled workers to other countries in search of better conditions. This survey will likely aim to find out the training needs of employers so that TPAF can appropriately provide training in such areas.
There has been a severe shortage of skills resulting from the continuous and mass exodus of skilled workers to overseas countries. Labor migration issues not unique to Fiji. Brain drain is common amongst developing nations where marketable skills or competence is not financially rewarded as well as more developed countries.
About Fiji: The Republic of the Fiji Islands is located in South Pacific Ocean near Tonga. It is one of the more developed of the Pacific island economies. Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Remittances from Fijians working abroad is a major source of income for the country. Fiji covers a total area of some 194,000 square kilometers of which around 10% is land. Urbanization and expansion in the service sector have contributed to recent GDP growth.
Prepared by Anita Rai Hassan
Independent Reporter
In collaboration with Saching
(http://www.saching.com, http://www.writearticles.org)
