How do paid employment, own-account work and subsistence livelihoods differ in Fiji's work system?

Paid employment involves working for an employer in return for remuneration. Own-account work is carried out independently, while subsistence livelihoods primarily support the household and may not produce regular wages.

Work in Fiji

Q: Which checks distinguish starting a job, practising a profession and opening a business in Fiji?

Starting a job generally requires an employment contract and TIN, while non-citizens need work authorization. A profession may require qualifications, registration or a practising certificate, and a business requires legal-form selection, company registration, a tax identification number and any approvals specific to its activity.

Q: What support is available for employment and unemployment in Fiji's work system?

The National Employment Centre offers job matching, counselling, referrals, training and workplace attachments, but it does not guarantee a job. Fiji has no established general unemployment benefit or unemployment insurance scheme, although eligible Fiji National Provident Fund members may withdraw limited savings after job loss.

Work in Fiji includes paid employment, self-employment, informal activity and subsistence livelihoods. Formal wage employment is concentrated in the Central and Western divisions, while informal, own-account and subsistence work are especially relevant in Eastern, maritime and Northern areas. Paid employment generally requires an employment contract and Tax Identification Number (TIN); non-citizens need work authorization before starting.

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Employment

Employment means contract, working time, pay, rights and duties.

Employer

An employer in Fiji is a person or organisation that pays workers and manages their employment. The Employment Relations Act 2007 and occupational health and safety rules apply to most employers, including government bodies, local authorities and statutory authorities, but exclude the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Fiji Police Force and Fiji Corrections Service. Employers organise written contracts, pay, records, workplace safety, consultation, worker representation and dispute procedures. Tax, provident-fund, immigration and sector-specific wage obligations add administrative duties.

Unemployment

Unemployment in Fiji means having no work while being available for work and actively looking for a job. Fiji has no established general unemployment benefit or unemployment insurance in the official sources reviewed. The National Employment Centre helps with registration, counselling, referrals, training and employment pathways, while eligible Fiji National Provident Fund members may withdraw limited savings after job loss.

Labor market

Fiji's labour market combines formal employment, self-employment, subsistence activity and informal work across services, agriculture, industry and public institutions. The 2023–24 Employment & Unemployment Survey counted 296,825 employed people and an unemployment rate of 5.7% among a working-age population of 614,832. Access, pay and job prospects differ sharply by gender, age, region, qualification and sector.

Professions

Professions in Fiji cover occupational groups and ways of working in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, construction, health, education, administration, business and other sectors. Entry can follow formal qualifications, practical experience, apprenticeship, trade testing or employer-based learning. Regulation is fragmented: some occupations require registration or a practising certificate, while many others rely on employer, provider or client requirements.

Business

Starting a business in Fiji involves choosing a legal form, registering with the Registrar of Companies and obtaining a tax identification number from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service. The main options include a Sole Trader, Partnership, Private Company, Public Company, Company Limited by Guarantee and Co-operative. Tax, workplace, safety, food, investment and sector requirements depend on the activity and risk level. Fiji has no general business licence since 1 August 2020, but sector-specific approvals still apply.

Work in Fiji covers the relationship between workers and employers, job search, unemployment, occupational choices, the labour market and business activity. The available pathways differ in income arrangements, legal duties, qualifications and risks. A worker may hold a paid job, work independently for clients, run a business or combine income-generating work with subsistence activity. The National Employment Centre (NEC) connects jobseekers with vacancies, counselling, training and workplace attachments. Registration with the NEC does not guarantee placement. Fiji has no established general unemployment benefit or unemployment insurance scheme; eligible Fiji National Provident Fund members may withdraw limited savings after job loss. Fiji's 2023–24 Employment and Unemployment Survey counted 296,825 employed people and recorded a 5.7% unemployment rate among a working-age population of 614,832. Access to work, pay and job prospects differ by gender, age, region, qualification and sector. Agriculture, fisheries, tourism, construction, health, education, administration and business all provide different entry routes. Some professions require formal qualifications, registration or a practising certificate. Other occupations rely mainly on practical experience, apprenticeship, trade testing or employer-based learning. An employer normally has duties concerning contracts, pay, records, workplace safety, consultation, worker representation and dispute procedures under the Employment Relations Act 2007 and occupational health and safety rules. These rules generally cover government bodies, local authorities and statutory authorities but exclude the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Fiji Police Force and Fiji Corrections Service. Starting a business requires choosing a legal form, registering with the Registrar of Companies and obtaining a tax identification number from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service. Options include a Sole Trader, Partnership, Private Company, Public Company, Company Limited by Guarantee and Co-operative. Fiji has had no general business licence since 1 August 2020, but tax, workplace, safety, food, investment and sector-specific approvals can still apply. The correct checks depend on the activity, location and level of risk.

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