Member workers who are on leave without pay are eligible to apply for the second phase of Fiji’s National Provident Fund’s COVID-19 withdrawal scheme.
In a statement, FNPF Chief Executive Officer Jaoji Koroi said the phase, in which members are entitled a payment of $1,100, was initially aimed at providing immediate relief for members who were genuinely unemployed, but has been extended to those who have been sent on leave without pay due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We understand that a lot of employers want to keep their employees and have opted to send them on leave without pay instead of ending their employment. That is why we are including that category of members in this phase now.
“There is no need to rush because the payment of these funds will end in August, so members can apply any time before the stipulated deadline and they will receive their funds.”
Submission of applications for phase two has been activated on the myFNPF and the Employers Portal, allowing members to apply from Tuesday, June 9.
Members who received the $220 payment last Friday are still or are now unemployed can also submit their applications through the App or their employer, to receive the remaining payment of $880.
Meanwhile, phase one of assistance closed with a total of 85,959 members paid $54.2m.