Human Rights Commission highlights Bangladeshi workers being duped and going through a lot of mental stress

The need for a new monitoring mechanism to ensure foreign workers receive what they are owed was highlighted in the submission from Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discrimination Commission regarding the Employment Relations Bill.

Commission Complaints Officer, Mithleshni Gurdayal has recommended that the Immigration Department work closely with the Ministry of Employment when vetting visa applications, contracts, and putting in place monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the foreign workers receive what they are owed.

She highlights that sometimes, the Bangladeshi workers sign two contracts, one in Bangladesh in their language, where they are shown bigger money that they will be receiving however when they actually arrive here, things are different.

She reveals that there are some Bangladeshi workers also going through a lot of mental stress, adding that some are waiting to be sent back to their country as they have not been earning for the last 5 months.

Gurdayal says migrant workers have also faced cases where they are quickly put on the plane to be flown back to their home country so that employers are not held accountable for the violations and contract breaches.

She further highlights that the complaints made to commission include OHS training, OHS tools and equipment, freedom from cruel and degrading treatment, for example, eating leftover food, poor living conditions, the lack of right to redress and remedies.

Gurdayal calls on the Ministry of Employment, Fiji Immigration, Human Rights Commission, and the Fiji Police Force to work together and have a unit to monitor and deal with such issues.