Fiji (FJ)

Rules: After completing 3 months of continuous service, employees are entitled to 10 working days of paid sick leave per year under ERA 2007. Sick leave entitlement is non-cumulative — unused sick leave lapses at end of each year. A medical certificate from a licensed Fijian doctor is required for any sick absence. Sick leave cannot be paid out on termination if unused. After exhausting the 10-day entitlement, further sick absence is unpaid unless the contract provides additional entitlements.

Doctor note: A medical certificate is required from the first day of sick absence in most formal employment contracts, or from day 2 under more lenient employer policies. Certificates must be issued by a licensed medical practitioner in Fiji. Government hospitals (Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva; Lautoka Hospital) and private clinics issue certificates. A valid certificate is required to claim sick-leave pay.

Employer pay: 10 working days paid sick leave per year (after 3 months service) at the full regular daily rate. After 10 days, further absence is unpaid. No separate statutory government sickness insurance benefit exists for private sector workers. Long-term incapacity is addressed through FNPF disability provisions and employer policy.

Long-term: FNPF provides a disability benefit for members who become permanently incapacitated before retirement age. The benefit is calculated based on the member's accumulated FNPF balance. Apply at the Fiji National Provident Fund. Private income protection insurance is strongly recommended for expatriate workers given the absence of a comprehensive state sickness insurance scheme.

Max hours: 45 hours per week (8 hours/day standard, 9 hours for a 5-day week) or 48 hours for some sectors. Overtime is any hours beyond the contractual standard hours. Tourism, hospitality, security, and transport commonly use shift arrangements averaging up to 48 hours/week. Public holidays: Fiji has 12 public holidays in 2026 — all paid days off. Work on public holidays: double time (2× regular rate) is standard under most sector wage orders.

Min rest: ERA 2007: minimum 1 rest day per week (typically Sunday, unless alternative agreed). Minimum 30-minute meal break for shifts over 5 hours. Resort and hospitality employees on shift rosters should have contractually specified rest periods between shifts.

Overtime: Overtime is paid at 1.5× the regular hourly rate for hours beyond normal hours on regular working days. Work on days off or public holidays: 2× the regular rate. Overtime must be documented and approved — habitual undocumented overtime is grounds for an ERT complaint. Under ERA 2007, employer cannot require overtime beyond reasonable limits without employee agreement.