Companies that do not meet their wage obligations 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 current and former employees of a security firm based in Suva.
Meli Tamani Tuidraki, a 45-year-old former security officer, lost his position after confronting the director of Pioneer Security Services, Rodney Nand, regarding unpaid wages.
“Any reports of unpaid salaries that have been submitted to us have been escalated to the court system,” Singh stated.
During a visit to his family home in Lami, Tuidraki expressed his frustration over the ongoing delay in payment, which has made it difficult for him to support his family.
“I have six family members relying on me. On Tuesday, I made the last meal of rice and eggs for my son to take to school,” he shared. “I told him that Tuesday would be the last day he would attend school because I can’t afford his bus fare.”
This incident marks the second instance in which Tuidraki’s salary was not paid on time.
On Monday, he confronted Nand at the New World Supermarket in Raiwaqa about his overdue payment. “I have been employed by PSS since July of last year, yet no contributions have been made to my Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF). When I approached him, Mr. Nand struck my hat off my head, and I reacted in self-defense. He threatened to reduce my salary and terminated my employment immediately,” Tuidraki recounted.
Feeling emotional and desperate, Tuidraki filed formal complaints with the Ministry of Labour, the FNPF, and a local news outlet. He mentioned that borrowing money would not resolve his situation and he and his family would need to search for food to sustain themselves. Attempts to reach Nand at his home were unsuccessful, and he did not respond to calls or messages.