The Minister for Employment, Agni Deo Singh, has confirmed that claims circulating on social media regarding the alleged mistreatment of seasonal workers in Australia are currently under investigation.
The concerns were highlighted by Ross Johnston, who shared details about the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Christine Lewailagi, a seasonal worker in Australia. Johnston stated that he met with other workers who reported similar allegations of inhumane treatment.
In response, Mr. Singh expressed that these allegations concerning employment conditions are being taken seriously. The Ministry is working closely with the Country Liaison Officer based in Victoria to ensure that these issues are thoroughly addressed.
“The CLO, along with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), will verify these matters with the employer and our Fijian workers to guarantee that the welfare and wellbeing of our workers in Australia are safeguarded and that they are treated with dignity,” Mr. Singh said.
He also noted that Ms. Lewailagi left Fiji to work for Midfield Meat Group in Victoria in May 2022 under the seasonal worker scheme. On June 17, 2024, the Ministry received a notification regarding an incident from DEWR, which indicated that Ms. Lewailagi had experienced severe headaches a week prior and was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
She was subsequently transported to Austin Hospital in Melbourne for further assessment, where she underwent two surgeries for a brain tumor. The report indicated that she was on life support with minimal chances of recovery, which was deeply unfortunate.
Ms. Lewailagi passed away on June 19, 2024, and her body was repatriated to Fiji for burial on July 6.
Additionally, during a recent Labour Mobility Stakeholder Engagement Workshop held in Suva, the Australian Workers Union (AWU) assured their commitment to ensuring that employers meet minimum standards for seasonal workers.
Mr. Singh emphasized that, as part of the Vuvale partnership agreement, the Employment Ministry will continue to strengthen its collaboration through ongoing discussions with Australian counterparts, specifically the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and DEWR, to address ongoing concerns tied to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) program.