Given Fiji’s current labour market shortages due to migration, Fijian Immigration laws have been relaxed effective from May 1st to allow companies to recruit foreigners without much hassle.
Countries recruit foreign nationals for a number of reasons that includes addressing skill shortages in order to enhance economic growth.
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration of Fiji Pio Tikoduadua has issued a ministerial directive on May 1, 2024, for the Fiji Immigration Department to exempt close to 150 companies in Fiji from providing the following information to Immigration Fiji while applying for Priority Work Permits while recruiting a foreign national:
• Reasons why position cannot be filled by citizen of Fiji Island;
• Evidence of copies of advertisements for vacancy;
• Reasons local applicants were not suitable;
• What type of training organisation intends to do (for the local);
• Names and positions of (local) persons to be trained.
The 150 plus companies’ names have also been published by the Fiji Immigration Department in a list titled “Qualified Employers List.” Fiji Immigration states the Qualified Employer List comprises employers who in the reasonable opinion of the Immigration director meet these five requirements:
• are frequent or high-volume sponsors of work permit applications lodged with the Department;
• have a proven track record of capably completing the required documentation to apply for work permits and complying with the conditions of permits once issued;
• are capable of satisfactorily complying with the required documentation requirements for short term or long-term work permit applications, meeting the conditions on which any such permits are issued;
• hold current Tax Compliance Certificates (to meet the requirements of s.74A of the Tax Administration Act 2009); and
• have not employed persons who have breached the conditions of any permit or law in Fiji or any other country.
Fiji Immigration states the Qualified Employers List will be updated at regular intervals. Employers may make a written request to the director and the decision on whether any particular employer is to be included on the list.
The Fijian companies that are on the Qualified Employers List as approved by the Director of Immigration are listed below.
AIRLINE/AVIATION – Air New Zealand Ltd, Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji, Fiji Airports, Fiji Airways, Island Hoppers, Joyce Aviation, Air Laucala
BANKING/FINANCE – ANZ Banking Group Limited, Bank of Baroda – Fiji Operations, Bred Bank (Fiji) Limited, Bank of South Pacific Fiji, Fiji Kontiki Finance Limited, Westpac Banking Corporation
CONSTRUCTION – Fletcher Construction (Fiji), Pacific Building Solutions, China Railway no. 5, Engineering Group (Fiji) Ltd, CCECC First Harbour, Sinohydro Corporation Limited – Fiji branch
CALL CENTRE – Bula Outsourcing, Mindpearl Fiji, Pacific Centrecom (Fiji) Limited, Rosie Outsourcing
ENERGY Energy Fiji Limited, Mobil Oil (Fiji), Pacific Energy (Swp) Limited, TotalEnergies Marketing (Fiji) Pte Limited
FISHING – Golden Oceans Fish Ltd, Hangton Pacific Company Pte Limited, Seafresh (Fiji) Ltd, Solander (Pacific) Pte Ltd
FILMING – Kololo – Fiji Branch, Seg Holdco LLC – Fiji Branch
GARMENT – United Apparel (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Danam (Fiji) Pte Limited, Lyndhurst, Ltd Mark One Apparel Pty Ltd
HOTEL – Club Wyndham Denarau Island, Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa, Fiji Marriot Resort Momi Bay, Grand Pacific Hotel, Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, Holiday Inn Suva, Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Kokomo Private Island Fiji, Mana Island Resort & Spa, Fiji Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Radisson Blu Resort, Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Tanoa Hotel Group, Namale Resort, Vomo Island Fiji, Wakaya Club, Nanuku Resort Fiji, Laucala Island Resort Pte Limited
INSURANCE – Life Insurance Corporation of India, New India Assurance Company Limited, BSP Life (Fiji) Limited
MEDICAL – Health Care (Fiji) Pte Limited T/A Aspen Medical, MIOT Pacific Medical, Oceania Hospital Pacific, Eye Institute, Sai Prema Foundation Fiji
MANUFACTURING – Ashabhai & Co, Basic Industries, British American Tobacco, Coca-Cola, Dominion Wire & Cables Pte Ltd, FMF Foods Pte Limited, Foods (Pacific) Pte Ltd, Golden Manufacturers Pte Ltd, Goodman Fielder International (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Narseys Plastics Industries Pte Ltd, Natural Waters of Viti Pte Ltd, Pacific Fishing Company Pte Limited, Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited, Pleass Global Limited, Punja & Sons Pte Ltd, Jack’s of Fiji
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES – BDO, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Munro Leys, PricewaterhouseCoopers HLB Man Judd Fiji, Haniff Tuitoga, Pacific Legal Network, R. Patel Lawyers, PKF, Production Pacific Pte Ltd), Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL – Fiji Red Cross Society, Japan International Co-Operation Agency, KOICA, The Pacific Community, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Pacific Tourism Organization, UN Agencies (WHO/IOM/UNDP/UN WOMEN/ILO ETC.)
RELIGIOUS – Archdiocese Office, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Anglican Church (Diocese of Polynesia), Fiji Muslim League, Marist FRS and Bros Oceania Province, Seventh-Day Adventist Church Regional Office, TISI Sangam, Jehovah’s Witness
RETAIL – Vision Investments, R, C Manubhai, Rups Investments, Tappoos, CJ Patel, Vinod Pate, Nivis Motor & Machinery
SCHOOL/INSTITUTION – Australia Pacific Training Coalition, Corpus Christi Teachers College, Fiji National University, Fulton Adventist University College, International School Suva, Pacific Regional Seminary, Pacific Theological College, University of Fiji, University of The South Pacific, International School Nadi
SUPERMARKETS – Extra Supermarket, Newworld Pte Ltd, RB Patel Group Ltd, Shop ‘N’ Save Supermarket
TOUR OPERATORS – Rosie Holidays
TELECOMMUNICATION – Digicel Pacific, Telecom Fiji (Pte) Ltd, Vodafone Fiji Pte Ltd Fiji, International Telecommunications Pte Ltd
VOLUNTEER – Australia Volunteers International, Global Vision
According to a KPMG Fiji report dated 6 June, the introduction of priority work permit applications is expected to expedite the approval process for certain categories of applicants. KPMG said these priority applications will benefit from exemptions on several requirements, including the necessity to justify why the position cannot be filled by a Fiji citizen, providing copies of advertisements for vacancies, and detailing training programs and project agreements. Despite the streamlined process, priority applications must still meet all other criteria for acceptance, said KPMG. The Qualified Employers List will be updated regularly, and employers can request to be included by writing to the Director of Immigration, said KPMG. The new measures aim to enhance the efficiency of Fiji’s immigration processes and support the country’s economic growth by ensuring timely issuance of work permits to qualified applicants.
