For the first time, the Ministry of Employment is set to engage with community stakeholders to address issues surrounding labor mobility. This announcement was made by Maritino Nemani, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Employment.
Nemani highlighted that over the past 16 months, the government has forged significant partnerships with relevant organizations to confront these challenges. He stated, “Labor mobility is a beneficial program for individual livelihoods and advantageous for the countries involved, including Fiji and Australia, as well as the governments and stakeholders.”
He emphasized that in the last 16 months, considerable collaboration has occurred among key stakeholders to ensure that everyone plays their role effectively. Nemani pointed out that previous initiatives had been ineffective due to the lack of support for workers facing issues abroad.
He underscored the importance of collaboration involving various entities, including religious groups, civil society organizations, other governmental departments, and the Australian Workers’ Union. He noted that past efforts had fallen short in providing coordinated support to workers encountering difficulties overseas.
The ministry plans to engage families in the pre-departure process to ensure that all parties are informed and have aligned expectations when their loved ones go abroad. This improved collaboration is deemed essential for minimizing the impacts of labor mobility on both the workers and their families.