The Fiji Immigration Department is taking significant strides to combat issues related to fraudulent documentation and the potential exploitation of workers within its work permit system. Acting West manager Salesi Cama highlighted these concerns during a recent presentation on trends in migration and mobility at a workshop in Lautoka.
Cama noted that unlike countries such as New Zealand and Australia, where visas are issued before entry, Fiji has a different system. The nation imposes visa exemptions for over 100 countries, allowing workers to apply from outside Fiji. On arrival, they are granted work permits. He reported that there has been an increase in the number of semi-skilled and unskilled laborers entering the country, with over 6,000 work permits issued last year.
The majority of these permits have been granted to workers from Bangladesh, Thailand, and Indonesia, with Bangladeshi nationals primarily working in construction, and those from China and Indonesia employed on fishing vessels. Cama expressed particular concern about the high incidences of fraudulent documents submitted by foreign applicants, particularly from Bangladesh, posing a challenge in ensuring the authenticity of recruitment processes.
In response to these challenges, the immigration department’s compliance team is auditing the work permit process to identify areas for improvement. Cama specified that workers without valid permits would be declared prohibited immigrants and removed. However, he noted that the situation is more complex when employees have valid permits but breach their contracts.
To enhance efficiency, the department has implemented a new data management system and plans to establish a work permit committee that includes representatives from the Fiji Immigration, the Ministry of Labour, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. This cross-collaboration aims to strengthen monitoring and compliance within the immigration process.
These measures come amid broader discussions on immigration policy in Fiji, reflecting the urgency of addressing exploitation in the labor market. Coupled with efforts by the Ministry of Employment to ensure foreign workers have proper qualifications, there is potential for creating a more transparent and fair labor environment.
Through these reforms, Fiji is positioned to not only protect the rights of migrant workers but also to foster economic growth while addressing skill shortages within its labor market. The commitment to enhance the treatment and conditions of foreign workers is a hopeful sign for both their welfare and the integrity of Fiji’s immigration system.
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