A Korean American woman who recently escaped from Grace Road Church’s True Mart in Navua claims that the members are subjected to harsh working conditions akin to slavery. After nearly eight years with the church, she recounted her experience of working for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, without breaks. The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, is now seeking government assistance to reunite with her children, who she states were mainly cared for by others during her time in Fiji.
During her stay, she witnessed a culture of exhaustive labor, stating that even elderly individuals were forced to work regardless of their health. She emphasized that proper healthcare was not provided to anyone in these conditions, and any ill individuals were compelled to continue working on the farm.
In an interview, she described a troubling environment where families were kept apart. This led to long periods without seeing her children or her husband, who remains at the church and asserts that “separation is normal.” His stance suggests that these matters should remain private and not involve church dynamics.
Interesting to note, this isn’t the first time issues surrounding the church’s practices have been raised. In a previous report by The Fiji Times, immigration officials discovered two Korean nationals in poor health, confined to a locked room at the GRC farm.
Grace Road Church has not yet provided any response to these allegations.
This situation shines a light on the complexities of faith-based organizations and the potential for exploitation within them. It calls for a broader discussion on worker’s rights and the responsibilities of organizations to ensure the welfare of all their members. As more stories emerge, there is hope that such experiences will lead to increased awareness and reforms to protect vulnerable individuals in similar situations.
Leave a comment