The Executive Officer of the Fiji Trade Union Congress (FTUC), Jotika Gounder-Sharma, is visiting New Zealand next week and will speak about the challenges facing Fiji's garment workers at a special UnionAID event in Wellington.

Wages in Fiji's garment industry fall below even the national minimum wage for unskilled workers. While industry representatives claim wage increases would threaten Fiji's global competitiveness, the FTUC challenges this position, fighting for fair pay that allows workers to support their families.

"Garment workers are some of the lowest paid in the country. The industry keeps telling us they cannot survive if they increase wages, but this system has always worked in favour of business profits over workers' basic needs," says Jotika Gounder-Sharma.

At the event in Wellington, Jotika will join Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand Executive Director, Gina Lockyer, to explore the struggles and resilience of Fiji's garment workers and their collective fight for better pay and conditions. The conversation will examine the challenges workers face daily, from unsafe working conditions to poverty wages, while highlighting how workers are organising to improve their situation, despite obstacles.

© Scoop Media