FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony says the decision appears to have been made following lobbying by the Fiji Employers Federation of Fiji (FCEF), without consultation with workers’ representatives or proper studies into the impact on Fiji’s labour market.
Anthony says the temporary suspension includes waivers on evidence that workers are unavailable in Fiji and the requirement for foreign workers to undergo skills understudy arrangements.
He says the FTUC was not consulted on the decision and questions whether Government has assessed the potential impact on local workers.
Anthony also raises concerns about the working conditions of foreign workers in Fiji, claiming there is currently inadequate oversight of their hours of work, wages and employment contracts.
He says some foreign workers are being grossly exploited and are living in conditions that are not fit for human habitation.
Anthony says the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations does not have sufficient resources to deal with the current influx of foreign workers, while the Immigration Department also faces challenges in monitoring work visas and their expiry dates.
He claims some employers prefer foreign workers because they can work long hours without receiving overtime payments or other employment benefits required under Fiji’s laws.
Anthony says this could further disadvantage local workers and contribute to more Fijians seeking employment overseas.
He says while there are sectors that genuinely require foreign workers, the Government needs a clear strategy to ensure their recruitment does not deny Fijians access to decent employment.
The FTUC is calling for tripartite consultations involving Government, employers and workers before decisions are made on the recruitment of foreign workers.
Anthony says such decisions should be based on proper planning, data and monitoring mechanisms rather than what he describes as decisions made through “cocktail circles”.
