Employers call for simplified immigration processes during review of Immigration Act

Calls are being made to simplify immigration processes, as according to some employers, it is taking up to eight months to bring employees to Fiji.

This issue has been raised during public consultations for the review of the Immigration Act, the Citizenship of Fiji Act, and the Passports Act.

One employer says that people overseas who plan to work in Fiji resign from their jobs and then have to wait for up to three months.

He says there is a need for a fairer process.

The employer further says Fiji is facing a labour shortage, but the delay in getting employees is too long, and these workers are urgently needed.

Another employer says overseas workers are also required to train local staff, and there is a need to streamline the processes.

An employer also says the mining and aquaculture sectors are experiencing similar challenges.

Meanwhile, Labasa Market vendor Amra Wati expressed concerns about the difficulties faced by people with disabilities in obtaining visas to travel overseas.

She says her daughter, who works with people with disabilities, has noted that processes should be made easier for people with disabled family members to either come to Fiji or travel abroad.

The public consultation will continue, with the team scheduled to be at the Nadi Civic Centre tomorrow, the Sigatoka Sai Hall on Saturday, Suvavou House next Tuesday, the Parish Hall in Nausori next Wednesday, and the Suva Civic Centre on 2nd September.