Pravesh Sharma, the chairperson of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC), has emphasized the need to respect the rights of the Grace Road Group amid recent scrutiny from the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations. In a discussion with The Lens@177, Sharma expressed his concerns about the ministry’s public announcement regarding alleged violations by Grace Road.
Sharma questioned whether the ministry would handle similar cases involving local employers in the same manner. He pointed out that the ministry’s approach seems premature, as it issued a public statement about the breaches without first allowing Grace Road the chance to explain and address the issues. He stated, “It appears so prima facie because rather than give them an opportunity to explain the breaches and rectify them, they’ve come out publicly in a media statement.”
Addressing the matter further, Sharma highlighted that the ministry could have privately alerted Grace Road about the alleged breaches before making any public pronouncements. He posed critical questions about the equitable treatment of local businesses, suggesting that if local employers are involved in similar breaches, they too should face the same scrutiny.
Grace Road Group, which employs about 800 workers in Fiji, has confirmed its willingness to collaborate with the ministry to resolve any public concerns surrounding their operations.
This situation underscores the importance of fair treatment and communication between governmental bodies and businesses, ensuring that all parties can address concerns constructively. It is hopeful that with open dialogue, both the ministry and Grace Road can reach an understanding that benefits the employees and the community at large.
In summary, the chairperson of FHRADC has raised important questions regarding the Ministry of Employment’s treatment of the Grace Road Group and emphasized the need for fairness and proper communication in resolving such issues.
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