The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has announced that companies failing to pay wages have been taken to court. This statement was made in response to queries regarding complaints from current and former employees of a security firm based in Suva.
Meli Tamani Tuidraki, a 45-year-old former security officer, shared his experience after losing his job following a confrontation with the director of Pioneer Security Services, Rodney Nand, over his unpaid salary. Mr. Tuidraki expressed his frustration at still waiting for his wages, which he desperately needs to support his family of six.
“I cooked the last pot of rice and eggs for my son before school, and I told him that Tuesday would be the last day he could go to school because I cannot afford his bus fare,” Mr. Tuidraki revealed. This marks the second occasion he has experienced delays in receiving his salary.
Mr. Tuidraki recounted the incident where he addressed Mr. Nand at a supermarket regarding his pay. He noted that despite working for the company since July of the previous year, no contributions had been made to his Fiji National Provident Fund. The confrontation escalated when Mr. Nand allegedly struck him, leading to his immediate dismissal.
Feeling desperate and emotional, Mr. Tuidraki sought assistance from the Ministry of Labour and the FNPF. He mentioned the difficulty of borrowing money and stated that he would have to find alternative means to meet his family’s nutritional needs. Attempts to contact Mr. Nand at his home were unsuccessful, and messages sent went unanswered.