The government has successfully recovered over $54,000 in unpaid wages owed to migrant workers. During a session in Parliament today, Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh shared that since 2021, a total of 165 labor complaints have been filed by migrant workers. Out of these complaints, 159 have been resolved, while four cases are still pending before the Employment Relations Tribunal, and two remain under investigation.
According to Singh, these migrant workers are employed across various industries, including 46 in wholesale and retail, 121 in construction, nine in the informal sector, seven in manufacturing, and two in the hospitality sector. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring fair treatment for all workers in Fiji, including foreign laborers, through strict enforcement of minimum labor standards.
The government has conducted awareness sessions and workplace inspections throughout the country to address labor-related issues. Singh also mentioned plans to strengthen protections for migrant workers by revising key legislation.
“The government is currently reviewing legislation to extend the coverage for foreign or migrant workers, particularly seafarers who currently lack protection under existing laws. Furthermore, we are reviewing the Immigration Act to enhance the work permit process and are developing a national labor mobility policy framework and strategy in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM),” Singh stated.
Additionally, concerns were voiced in Parliament about the skill levels of some foreign workers entering the country. Singh acknowledged that there have been instances where employers have expressed dissatisfaction with the skills of workers provided by recruitment agents, despite the presence of certificates indicating otherwise.
He noted that employers were unhappy that the skills they expected were not present in the workers. When these workers were redeployed, they often faced reduced wages, leading to complaints that were escalated to the Human Rights Commission. The government is currently addressing these issues with the recruitment agents to ensure the authenticity of the certificates presented by overseas workers.
Singh reaffirmed the government’s dedication to fostering decent and sustainable labor practices, highlighting ongoing efforts to provide a safe and supportive work environment for everyone, aligned with Fiji’s productivity goals.