Companies that do not fulfill their wage obligations are facing legal action, according to Agni Deo Singh, the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations. Singh gave this update in response to inquiries about complaints made by both past and present employees of a security firm based in Suva.
Meli Tamani Tuidraki, a 45-year-old ex-security officer, was recently let go after he raised concerns about unpaid wages with the director of Pioneer Security Services, Rodney Nand. Tuidraki expressed his frustration over the delayed payments, emphasizing the difficulties it poses for his family. “I have six family members relying on me every day. The last meal I prepared for my son was rice and eggs, and I told him he might not be able to go to school anymore because I can’t afford his bus fare,” he explained.
This incident marks the second time Tuidraki has faced issues with receiving his salary on time. He recounted his confrontation with Nand at a supermarket, where he expressed his concerns after not having seen any deductions made for his Fiji National Provident Fund, despite being employed at PSS since July of the previous year. Tuidraki said that the situation escalated, leading to Nand striking him and subsequently terminating his employment.
In a state of distress, Tuidraki approached the Ministry of Labour, the Fiji National Provident Fund, and the media to file a complaint. He remarked that borrowing money seems pointless, and he is left to search for any means available to feed his family. Efforts to reach Nand for comment were unsuccessful, as he was unavailable at his residence, and attempts to contact him via phone and messages went unanswered.