Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh has urged Fijian workers not to abandon their contracted overseas jobs for casual cash work, warning it could jeopardise visa protection, insurance, and other essential support.
Speaking during the Fiji Family Focus program at Navola Village, Nadroga this week, Mr Singh said the initiative aims to equip workers with savings skills and strengthen family bonds.
“We want our workers to come back stronger with savings skills and happy families,” he said. “That is real success.”
He emphasised that the program goes beyond financial gains.
“These opportunities are not only about earning income. They’re about building strong families, protecting our children, and making sure our workers return home safely and with dignity.”
Mr Singh acknowledged the benefits of working abroad, such as helping families pay for education, build homes, and start businesses, but also highlighted the personal challenges.
“Being away from family is not easy, it needs trust, planning, and shared responsibility from everyone at home.
“No amount of money is worth it if our children are neglected. Their safety and wellbeing must come first.”
The Fiji Family Focus program, facilitated jointly by the Ministry of Employment and the International Organisation for Migration, prepares workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) and New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) schemes for life abroad and a safe return.
Country liaison officers have also been appointed in Australia and New Zealand to support Fijian workers.
