Illegal recruitment agencies operating in Fiji and overseas source countries are under scrutiny as authorities work to ensure foreign workers are recruited through proper legal channels.
Ministry of Employment labour standards and compliance director Daniel Tagivakatini said the ministry had identified several agencies operating illegally, recruiting workers from Fiji for overseas employment and bringing foreign workers into the country.
“You can see that there are many migrant workers that are coming in,” he said.
He said the ministry was working closely with the Ministry of Immigration and other government agencies to address the issue and ensure workers entered the country through legitimate processes.
“This is something that we are really working closely with Immigration to see that workers, who are coming in, need to come in through the proper channels and not through illegal means.”
Mr Tagivakatini said the ministry also monitored trade union activities and workplace relations, particularly in the hotel industry, where many workers were covered by trade unions, including in the Sigatoka area.
According to the Ministry of Immigration, more than 6400 work permits were issued to foreign workers between August 2023 and January 2025, with 774 registered employers applying for permits during the period.
Construction, agriculture, food and beverage, and manufacturing were among the leading industries recruiting foreign workers.
