Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, announced yesterday that more staff would be recruited to oversee employers’ adherence to labor laws.
“We want fair wages so that workers can support their families after a hard day’s work,” Mr. Singh stated during his visit to Labasa.
“There will be no second warnings for employers who fail to meet the minimum wage rate of $4.50 per hour,” he added.
The government’s approval to increase the minimum wage took effect on August 1.
The wage increase aims to assist low-income earners in managing the rising cost of living.
Mr. Singh emphasized that compliance officers must enhance their efforts to identify employers violating the wage regulations.
“The increase in ministry staff will enable effective surveillance of all employers,” he said.
“Employees or workers are encouraged to report any wage discrepancies to the ministry or other relevant centers.”
The second phase of the minimum wage increase is scheduled to commence on April 1, 2025.
Mr. Singh praised employers who are already paying above the minimum wage rate, but also urged workers to maintain high performance standards.
Labasa Chamber of Commerce and Industries President, Vinesh Dayal, recently urged employers to comply with all labor laws.
As a solution to combat the rising cost of living, Mr. Dayal recommended the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
“This would help SMEs to generate reasonable income and create more job opportunities,” Mr. Dayal concluded.