THE Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is urging law enforcement and labour authorities to launch a formal investigation into the practices of migrant worker recruiters, both locally and overseas.
The call was made during the recent Interagency Dialogue on the Protection of Migrant Workers’ Rights in Fiji, where the commission raised concerns over an increasing number of cases involving alleged exploitation and deception of migrant workers.
According to the commission, many of the issues begin at the recruitment stage, particularly with agents operating in both Fiji and countries such as Bangladesh.
“We have some local recruiting agents and we have some in Bangladesh, and the problem starts when they are recruiting,” a commission representative said.
“Everything is done in their own language. They sign a different contract, and they have a different contract here.
“The expectation of work changes when they come here.”
The commission highlighted the vulnerability of some migrant workers, many of whom make significant sacrifices in hopes of securing better opportunities.
“Some of the things that migrant workers used to get here, they have sold their land, their houses. They have no money.”
In some cases, workers return home empty-handed, unable to recover the money they invested to secure employment abroad.
“We have to talk with the employers, give them some money.
“At least they can buy a cup of coffee at the airport. So this is how bad the situation is.”
The commission emphasised the need to address the entire chain of responsibility, starting from recruitment practices abroad and extending to local employers in Fiji.
“We should start from the recruiting agents, then come down to Fiji and deal with the employers. I think that’s the problem.”
