The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has announced its assistance in addressing labor shortages within the sugar industry by providing inmate labor to support cane harvesting. Acting Commissioner Auta Moceisuva emphasized that the service has already deployed correctional work “gangs” to Farmers who are struggling to find enough workers during the critical harvesting season.
“We can provide the labor because we have laborers,” Moceisuva stated. He highlighted that sugarcane cutting is ongoing, and the corrections service has been instrumental in helping farmers due to the workforce shortages plaguing the industry.
Since the initiation of this program, correctional work teams have contributed to the harvesting of approximately 258,000 tonnes of sugarcane. These teams have been sent to key cane-producing areas, including Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, and Labasa.
Moceisuva noted that this initiative not only aids the country’s economic development but also offers inmates a chance to earn income and acquire valuable work experience. Under the arrangement, 60 percent of the earnings go directly to the inmates, while the remaining 40 percent is retained by the corrections service to support administrative costs.
In an inspiring example, Moceisuva mentioned a prisoner serving a life sentence who was able to save around $17,000 through work during his incarceration, allowing him to return to society with financial means to rebuild his life. Such initiatives form part of broader efforts aimed at rehabilitation and decreasing the chances of reoffending, showcasing a positive approach to integrating inmates back into the community while helping vital sectors of the economy.
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