The Ministry for Employment in Fiji says it is working with the Fiji Police Force in investigating bogus employment agencies preying on the innocence of the people.
Minister Parveen Kumar said this while responding to a question from MP Dr Salik Govind in Parliament yesterday on the actions taken against bogus agencies’ advertisements for jobs overseas.
Mr Kumar says the Employment Relations Act 2007 and the Employment Relations Employment Agency Regulations 2008 are the legislations enforced to regulate and provide legitimate authorisation to potential agencies who intend to recruit workers for overseas employment, and that includes advertisements.
He said the ministry had so far authorised four employment agencies to operate in Fiji after it met all requirements set in the Employment Relations Employment Agencies Regulation 2008.
“… So far, the ministry has successfully prosecuted three bogus employment agencies that were operating illegally and placing advertisements for overseas employments,” Mr Kumar said.
“These three individuals were fined by the Employment Relations Tribunal and the Employment Court.”
The Minister said the compliance and enforcement section of the ministry had been working with the Fiji Police Force and other enforcement agencies to ensure innocent Fijians were not misled by bogus agencies.
He said they had also conducted awareness programs through talkback shows, newspapers and on the ministry’s official social media Facebook page to ensure Fijians were made aware of the process through which potential workers were recruited for overseas employment.
“As a way forward, my ministry is also working very closely with the Solicitor General’s office and other enforcement stakeholders to ensure that relevant laws are enforced and matters taken to employments tribunal and courts.”
Mr Kumar also noted that the National Employment Centre (NEC) is responsible for the recruitment of workers under the recognised seasonal employers scheme for New Zealand and the seasonal workers program together with the Pacific Labour scheme program for Australia.
“These are all bilateral arrangements signed between the Fijian Government and both the New Zealand and Australian governments.
“And let me make it very clear that there is no other agency allowed to conduct recruitments for these mentioned programs.
“These are the actions taken by my ministry to ensure that Fijian people are not cheated in any way by any individual or groups.
“And I urge our Fijians not to pay any money to anyone promising that they can arrange for work in either Australia or NZ under our labour mobility program.”
In his response, Mr Kumar cited a case where an individual was charged for misleading Fijians for employment under a foreign contract of service without the approval of the Ministry of Employment permanent secretary.
He said that person had been going around the country telling people that their company would send them to USA for employment.
He added the ministry got hold of 1255 passports that had been given to the Immigration department.
In the judgement by the Employment Tribunal, this person was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and two months to be served immediately, and the remainder of the term to be suspended based on good behaviour.
