Companies that do not pay wages are facing legal action, according to Agni Deo Singh, the Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations. Singh made this announcement in response to complaints from both former and current employees of a security firm based in Suva.
Meli Tamani Tuidraki, a 45-year-old former security officer, reported losing his job after confronting the director of Pioneer Security Services, Rodney Nand, about his unpaid salary. Mr. Singh confirmed that all complaints regarding unpaid wages have been directed to the courts.
Tuidraki, who visited his family home in Lami, expressed his frustration over the delay in receiving his salary, which has left him unable to support his family. “I have six family members relying on me. On Tuesday, I prepared the last of our rice and eggs for my son, informing him that it was the final time he would be going to school because I couldn’t afford his bus fare,” he said.
This is the second instance in which Tuidraki has faced delays in receiving his monthly paycheck. He confronted Nand at the New World Supermarket in Raiwaqa about his wages on Monday. Tuidraki stated that he has been working for Pioneer Security Services since July of the previous year, yet no contributions have been made to his Fiji National Provident Fund.
Their confrontation escalated when Nand allegedly struck Tuidraki, who reacted in self-defense. Tuidraki claimed Nand threatened to cut his wages and terminated his employment immediately.
Feeling emotional and desperate, Tuidraki has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour, the FNPF, and sought help from local media. He mentioned that borrowing money seemed futile, and instead, he would have to search for whatever food they could find for survival. Nand was unavailable at his home for comment, and attempts to reach him by phone went unanswered.