Companies that neglect to pay their employees are facing legal action, according to Agni Deo Singh, the Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations. This statement follows complaints from both former and current employees of a security firm in Suva.
One affected individual is Meli Tamani Tuidraki, 45, who lost his job after addressing his overdue payments with the company’s director, Rodney Nand. Tuidraki expressed his frustration, stating he was still awaiting payment which he urgently needed to support his family.
“I have six dependents, and just this past Tuesday, I provided the last meal of rice and eggs for my son before school. I told him that was the last time he would be able to attend, as I cannot afford his bus fare,” Tuidraki reported.
This incident marks the second consecutive month that Tuidraki experienced delayed salary payments. He confronted Nand at a supermarket about his wages. Tuidraki has been employed by Pioneer Security Services since July of the previous year, yet he noted that no contributions have been made to his Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF). The confrontation escalated, leading to Nand striking him and subsequently terminating his employment.
In a state of distress, Tuidraki has filed complaints with the Ministry of Labour and the FNPF, expressing the dire situation he faces, stating that he would rather seek food than take out loans for their next meal. Attempts to reach Nand for comment were unsuccessful as he was not available at his home.