Government is tightening oversight on foreign worker visas and employment approvals to close gaps that have allowed inconsistencies and exploitation.
Minister for Justice and acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said the ongoing review of Fiji’s immigration laws is necessary to respond to changing migration patterns.
“Yes, definitely that’s one of the main reasons we’ve undertaken this review because the situation changes,” Mr Turaga said during the handover of the final report and draft bills for the review of the Passport Act 2022, Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 and Immigration Act 2003.
“We all understand, in terms of foreign workers, that there is an abundance of people from Pakistan and Bangladesh who are here.
“There are also people who are qualified that are here but not given opportunity, but certainly when vetting applications on foreign workers, there’s efficient due diligence that is required by the immigration department before we actually approve.”
Fiji Law Reform Commission consultant and legal practitioner David Solvalu said the new Immigration Bill “sets out generally the framework for visas and permits but much of that is covered by the regulations which is a form of subsidiary legislation that’s made under the Act”.
Mr Turaga said immigration laws “change regularly” and the new bills had been drafted with matching regulations to ensure effective enforcement once Cabinet gives its approval.
