An expatriate worker who comes to work in Fiji will be covered under the Employment Relations Act.
This was highlighted by Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations mediator Tomasi Keni at a minimum wage review public consultation in Ba this week.
Mr Keni was responding to a query from Dayal Steels Ltd general manager Anul Sharan after admitting the company had to pay $40,000 in medical fees for an expatriate at ASPEN Hospital in Ba.
“I had one employee who got sick and took him to ASPEN and was charged $40,000,” Mr Sharan said.
“So, if the regulations say it’s all covered, why isn’t that sector covering the medical aspect of it. I think that assessment has to be done. So, the company had to pull some more money and to basically put an insurance on the expatriate, and we are paying for it which was not even discussed in the contract.
“Just because of that portfolio, and we are not doctors, we just take them to hospital and they come with a bill that is outrageous.”
Mr Sharan said he hoped the review team would take the matter into consideration as the company was employing more than 50 expatriates from India.
Mr Keni said employment laws were also applicable to expatriate workers.
“Once they are coming into this country and if we give them an employee contract, they will be covered under the employment relations act of our country. That means our laws will apply to them, the terms and conditions we’ll pay them will be according to what’s in our law.”
He also assured Mr Sharan the issue would be raised with the Ministry of Health. The Employment Relations Act is the primary legislation governing employment relationships in Fiji. It covers various aspects, including employment contracts, working hours, wages, leave entitlements, termination procedures, employee benefits, and protection against unfair dismissal.
