THE Ministry of Employment has received complaints from employers who claim some local workers are abusing sick and annual leave provisions, prompting businesses to hire foreign workers.
Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh confirmed this saying those concerns had been raised by employers in various forums.
Mr Singh said the Government had acknowledged the complaints but stressed that improving workplace relations and productivity was a shared responsibility between employers and employees.
He said the Government had taken steps to make employment more attractive for local workers, including increasing the minimum wage.
“At the same time, we are impressing upon employers to ensure that they also treat workers fairly,” Mr Singh said.
“So it’s a two-way thing, it’s not a one-way thing.”
Mr Singh said effective people management remained a challenge for many workplaces, noting that supervisors, managers and human resource personnel played a critical role in maintaining productivity.
“I also believe that a happy worker is a productive worker.”
He said while productivity was important, workers must also be treated fairly and receive the wages and benefits they were entitled to.
Addressing workers, Mr Singh said Government was doing its best to ensure fair treatment and proper remuneration, but employees also had a responsibility to deliver.
“To the employers, please do not shortchange workers.
“Make sure that you pay all their benefits so that we are able to attract those workers and they continue to produce for us.”
Mr Singh also urged citizens and employees to respect the rights of foreign workers, saying they were equally protected under Fiji’s laws. He said all workers, regardless of their nationality, were entitled to fair treatment in the workplace.
