Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma has called on Parliament to push through urgent reforms to tackle workplace harassment, arguing last week that workplace safety must include dignity and respect, not just physical conditions. In a forceful address, Sharma framed harassment as a spectrum — from verbal and emotional abuse to physical and sexual misconduct and discrimination — and warned that delays in handling complaints leave victims without meaningful justice. “Justice that arrives late is justice that has already failed,” he told MPs.
Sharma used his speech to press for stronger protections for those who report wrongdoing, saying Fiji lacks an effective whistleblower policy and urging ministries to adopt their own internal safeguards. He said slow or inconsistent responses to complaints compound harm for victims and undermine trust in institutions, and emphasised that naming the different forms harassment can take is a necessary step toward prevention and redress.
The Minister for Employment, Agni Deo Singh, echoed many of Sharma’s concerns, saying the government views strengthening the employment relations legislative framework as central to protecting workers. Singh told Parliament that bullying, harassment, discrimination, victimisation and excessive work demands create harmful environments that erode trust and “negatively impact both mental and physical health.”
Singh set out a prevention-focused approach, arguing that laws must be matched by clear workplace policies and systems. “We must build systems that stop harm before it occurs,” he said, calling for workplace policies that explicitly prohibit harassment and misconduct, leadership that models respectful behaviour, and confidential reporting mechanisms that enable early intervention and are accountable.
Both Sharma and Singh urged practical measures that departments and employers can adopt now, even as broader legislative reform is discussed. Sharma’s recommendation that each ministry implement a whistleblower policy reflects growing attention to protections that encourage reporting while shielding complainants from retaliation. Singh’s emphasis on confidential, work-safe reporting echoes that call and points to enforcement and monitoring as areas needing strengthening.
The exchange represents the latest development in public debate over workplace conduct and employee protections, moving the conversation from isolated incidents to systemic reform. By expanding the definition of workplace safety and highlighting gaps in whistleblower protections, MPs and the employment minister have signalled a willingness to consider both policy and law changes to better prevent and address harassment.
Parliamentary committees and ministries are now likely to face pressure to translate these proposals into concrete measures — from internal ministry policies and reporting channels to potential amendments to employment relations legislation. For now, both government and opposition voices agree on prevention, clearer rules and timely, confidential mechanisms as priorities to restore trust and protect workers’ dignity.