Companies that do not pay their employees’ salaries are facing legal action, according to Agni Deo Singh, the Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations. Singh made this statement while addressing inquiries about complaints from present and former staff of a security firm in Suva.
Meli Tamani Tuidraki, a 45-year-old former security officer, expressed his frustration after being terminated from his position at Pioneer Security Services on Monday when he confronted the company’s director, Rodney Nand, about his unpaid wages.
“All complaints regarding unpaid wages that have been submitted to us are being directed to the courts,” Singh stated.
Visiting his family home in Lami, Tuidraki shared his disappointment, highlighting the struggle to provide for his family during this difficult time. “There are six people relying on me daily. On Tuesday, I cooked the last meal of rice and eggs for my son to take to school,” he said. He added, “I had to tell him that Tuesday was the last day he would go to school since I can’t afford his bus fare.”
This marks the second occasion where Tuidraki has not received his salary on time. “On Monday, I confronted Mr. Nand at New World Supermarket in the Damodar complex regarding my wages,” he recounted. “I have been employed with PSS since last July, yet no contributions have been made to my Fiji National Provident Fund. During our confrontation, he slapped my hat off my head, and I reacted in self-defense. He then threatened to reduce my pay and dismissed me immediately.”
Feeling desperate and emotional, Tuidraki filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour, the Fiji National Provident Fund, and this publication. He mentioned that seeking loans seemed pointless and that he now needs to search for food for his family’s next meal. Nand was unavailable for comments at his home, and attempts to reach him via phone were unsuccessful.