5-Year and 20-Year National Development Plan Fiji has incorporated significant elements of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) into its laws and policies and is implementing the National Gender Policy and the Women’s Plan of Action. Domestic violence legislation has been developed and utilised by the Fiji Police Force and courts as part of an overarching approach to bring down the amount of violence experienced by women and children. Complementary to this is the establishment of a toll-free 24-hours’ hotline to provide counselling and appropriate referral for survivors of GBV as well as to avenues for redress. These measures, backed by our vibrant NGOs, are leading the way in the region in best practice in service delivery for GBV victims and survivors. DISABILITY People with special needs comprise an estimated 1.4 percent of the total population. Fiji became a signatory to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2010, and the right to basic services for persons with disabilities is enshrined in the Constitution. With increased awareness of the needs of people living with disabilities, the trend in new commercial developments and public infrastructure is towards being more inclusive in design and accessibility. yet effective. Incentives, and where necessary subsidies, have been provided to spur investment and meet basic needs, particularly in areas like renewable energy and infrastructure development, and to support growth in key economic sectors such as ICT, tourism, manufacturing and agriculture. These initiatives complement national branding initiatives like ‘Fijian Made’. Capacity to effectively resolve commercial disputes and civil cases has improved with efforts to ensure effective arbitration and mediation processes and improving registration and enforcement of copyright, trademarks and patents. TRADE POLICY Boosting productive capacity for exports has been a high priority for government. The National Trade Policy Framework provides the policy settings and institutional framework to address challenges such as market access, trade facilitation and export growth. Government has been undertaking tariff policy reviews consistent with its economic development aspirations and priorities. FINANCIAL SECTOR Fiji has a sound and well-managed financial system. In seeking to develop a robust and deep financial sector, the Financial Sector Development Plan 2016-2025 provides the necessary overarching policy direction. In the years ahead, reform initiatives will include: a diagnostic review of legislative and regulatory frameworks affecting the financial system, establishment of the National Switch, developing capital markets, streamlining and reducing the cost of overseas remittances, enhancing the competitiveness of non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), implementing a Secured Transaction Framework and strengthening the MSME sector. LABOUR MARKET 2.4 Structural Reforms A number of structural reforms have been undertaken to reduce the cost of doing business, promote more efficient allocation of resources, provide more room for private sector development and provide policy space for the government’s development agenda. The broad structural reform areas include the regulatory environment for private sector development, trade, the financial sector, the labour market, land, public enterprises, the sugar industry, and goods markets. REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT FOR PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT The regulatory environment for private-sector development has been improved through more effective administration of regulatory frameworks for land use, development control and building permissions. Tax administration has been made more business friendly, Reforms have been implemented to put in place a modern employment-relations regulatory framework that can protect the fundamental rights of all employees and also support inclusive private sector-led growth. Employment Relations (Amendment) Acts of 2015 and 2016 facilitate compliance with the Tripartite Agreement among government, Fiji Trades Union Congress and Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation. Under this Plan, the strategic focus for human resource development will be on building individual and institutional capacity in all sectors of the economy. Continuous efforts will be focused on improving Fiji’s labour-market standards to meet accredited international best practices, including the fostering of a modern workforce encouraging increased participation from women and recognising the abilities of those from diverse groups. These reforms provide a platform for equality where both men and women can enjoy the benefits of employment and conditions conducive to productivity and prosperity for all. 14