The Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has announced that companies failing to pay wages are being taken to court. This statement follows complaints from former and current employees of a security firm in Suva.
One of the affected individuals, Meli Tamani Tuidraki, a 45-year-old former security officer, shared his frustration after losing his job for pressing the company’s director, Rodney Nand, about his overdue salary. Mr. Singh confirmed that any issues regarding unpaid salaries that are brought to the ministry’s attention are being forwarded to the courts.
During a visit to his family home in Lami, Mr. Tuidraki expressed his disappointment over the delay in receiving his payment, explaining that he is the sole provider for his family. He mentioned cooking his last meal of rice and eggs for his son, revealing that financial constraints may prevent his child from attending school due to a lack of bus fare.
This incident marks the second instance in which Mr. Tuidraki has not received his salary on time. He confronted Mr. Nand at a supermarket about his pay and reported that the director reacted aggressively, resulting in his immediate termination. Mr. Tuidraki also raised concerns about the lack of contributions to his Fiji National Provident Fund.
Feeling desperate, he has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and the FNPF. With no option to borrow money, he resourced himself for food as Mr. Nand could not be reached for comment.