The government has successfully recovered over $54,000 in unpaid wages owed to migrant workers. During a session in Parliament, Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh reported that since 2021, 165 labor complaints have been filed by migrant workers. Out of these complaints, 159 have been resolved, four are currently pending before the Employment Relations Tribunal, and two remain under investigation.
Singh indicated that the workers are distributed across various sectors: 46 in wholesale and retail, 121 in construction, nine in the informal sector, seven in manufacturing, and two in the hotel and catering industry. He emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring fair treatment for all workers in Fiji, including foreign laborers, by rigorously enforcing minimum labor standards.
To address labor-related issues, the government has conducted awareness sessions and workplace inspections across the country. Singh also mentioned plans to enhance protections for migrant workers through legislative revisions. The current review aims to broaden the scope of coverage for foreign or migrant workers, notably seafarers, who are presently not included under existing regulations. Additionally, the government is reviewing the Immigration Act to improve the work permit process and is collaborating with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to develop a national labor mobility policy framework and strategy.
Concerns were raised in Parliament about the skill levels of some foreign workers. Singh recognized that there have been cases where employers expressed dissatisfaction with the qualifications of workers provided by agents, despite certificates indicating otherwise. He noted that employers have reported receiving workers whose skills did not match their expectations, leading to redeployments that resulted in reduced wages for the workers, some of whom later filed complaints with the Human Rights Commission.
The Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to decent and sustainable labor practices, emphasizing ongoing initiatives to foster a safe and supportive work environment that aligns with Fiji’s productivity objectives.