FCEF MSME Chair Wahed claims labour inspection was intimidation after criticising Employment Bill

Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) MSME Council Chair, Rakin Wahed, claims his business was unfairly targeted by Labour Officers just a week after releasing a video online criticising the Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill — an incident he describes as “highly suspicious” and “intimidating.”

This comes after a statement by Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh rejecting the claims, saying the visit was part of a “routine inspection” and that three other workplaces in the same premises were also checked.

In an interview with fijivillage News today, Wahed, who owns a media and video production company, said the officers questioned him about the type of videos his company produced before demanding employment records, including digital contracts and bank statements.

Wahed says the inspection raised “serious procedural and legal concerns,” alleging that the request for bank statements went beyond what the law allows.

The FCEF has since condemned what it describes as alleged intimidation tactics, saying the inspection appeared to target one of its members who had publicly criticised the Bill.

FCEF Chief Executive Officer Edward Bernard says that out of more than 25 businesses in the same complex, Labour Officers only inspected Wahed’s office.

However Agni Deo Singh says the allegation that the FCEF member alone was targeted is incorrect, adding that the inspection found the business in breach of Sections 44 and 45 of the Employment Relations Act 2007 for failing to provide wage statements and maintain wage and time records.

He says these are not minor oversights but core legal obligations and that the Ministry’s actions were necessary and lawful.

Singh also confirmed that Wahed was issued a 30-day compliance notice, saying all Labour Officers operate strictly within legal boundaries.

Wahed, however, maintains that his company, which employs one staff member, operates fully online and provides payslips digitally when required.

He told fijivillage News that current inspection methods fail to recognise modern business practices.

Wahed also warned that under the proposed Bill, businesses may no longer receive 30-day compliance notices but face instant penalties.

He says the Bill will make it harder for small businesses to survive.