OUT of more than 700 businesses in Fiji employing foreign workers, only about 20 have been found breaching labour regulations.
Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF) chief executive officer Edward Bernard confirmed this saying the reliance on foreign workers, particularly from Bangladesh, had become both a labour and employment challenge for local businesses.
“We’re not able to find the right people and the right number of people,” Mr Bernard said.
“So now employers are opting to get foreign workers to come and fill that gap.
“It’s not cheap to get them; you have to pay their airfares, recruitment costs, and so forth. Before they land in the country, an average of about $3000 is already spent, but it’s a necessity.”
Mr Bernard said sourcing foreign workers was crucial for keeping factories and businesses operational.
According to the Ministry of Immigration, around 714 businesses in Fiji currently employed foreign workers.
While there have been breaches in worker rights, Mr Bernard said they involved only a small fraction of employers.
“When we checked with the Ministry of Employment, I think there’s about cases relating to about 20 businesses.
“So if you look at the scheme of things, it’s a minority of businesses that are breaching this.
“Not all employers are bad employers; it’s a minority that we need to address.”
He noted that the Ministry of Employment was conducting due diligence to ensure compliance and take action against businesses that violate regulations.
