Calls grow to protect migrant workers facing abuse in Fiji

Migrant workers come to Fiji chasing the promise of a better life but for some migrant workers, that dream has turned into a quiet struggle.

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is raising alarm over their treatment and says that since 2020, they have received 36 complaints involving migrant workers, and reported issues include unpaid wages, verbal abuse from employers, lack of awareness of contract terms and conditions, and an inability to return home when serious problems arise.

Commissioner Alefina Vuki mentioned these concerns while opening an Inter-agency Dialogue aimed at strengthening coordination between key stakeholders to protect the rights and dignity of migrant workers in Fiji.

She says addressing these issues requires a coordinated effort from immigration officers, labour and employment officials, human rights advocates, and the police to formulate an effective action plan.

Vuki says this initiative will create a vital platform for discussing the nature of complaints, evaluating existing complaints handling mechanisms, and finding a collective way forward through stronger collaboration.

The Commissioner also emphasised that migrant workers have brought valuable skills into the country and have contributed to the economy, and therefore deserve recognition and fair treatment regarding their concerns.

She says it is a moral obligation to ensure that all workers in the country, regardless of their origin, are treated fairly and humanely.

There are currently over 6,000 migrant workers in the country, with the highest number employed in the construction industry, followed by the tourism and agriculture sectors