The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has announced that companies neglecting to pay wages are being taken to court. This statement comes in response to complaints from both former and current employees of a security company based in Suva.
Meli Tamani Tuidraki, a 45-year-old former security officer, recently lost his job after confronting Pioneer Security Services director, Rodney Nand, about his unpaid salary. Tuidraki expressed his frustration, stating that he was still waiting for his salary to support his family. “I have six family members depending on me. On Tuesday, I made the last pot of rice and eggs for my son to take to school,” Tuidraki shared. He added that he had to inform his son that he might not have the money for bus fare in the future.
This incident marks the second occurrence of Tuidraki not receiving his salary on time. He confronted Nand at a supermarket about his pay and reported that he has not seen any contributions made to his Fiji National Provident Fund despite working for the company since July of the previous year. Tuidraki claimed that Nand physically attacked him during their confrontation and subsequently fired him.
Feeling desperate, Tuidraki has filed complaints with the Ministry of Labour and the Fiji National Provident Fund, stating he has no option but to search for food for his family. Efforts to contact Nand went unanswered, as he was not at home and did not respond to messages or calls.