Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday introduced the Registration of Skilled Workers Repeal Bill 2025 in Parliament, arguing that the existing law has created confusion, weakened regulatory systems, and exposed Fiji to avoidable risks.
Speaking during the tabling of the bill, Mr Rabuka said the Registration of Skilled Professionals Act 2016 was originally enacted “with the intention of addressing shortages of specialised skills in Fiji by establishing a dedicated mechanism to attract and register foreign skilled professionals.”
He explained that the law aimed to create an additional pathway to fill immediate gaps in sectors critical to Fiji’s development.
“To operationalise that objective, the Act established a Skilled Professional Evaluation Committee,” he said.
“The committee was mandated to assess Fiji’s need for skilled professionals, evaluate applications for special registration, and issue directives to facilitate the employment of foreign professionals.”
However, Rabuka said that in practice, the Act created a “parallel pathway” that bypassed long-standing registration, licensing and vetting systems already administered by statutory professional bodies and the Ministry of Immigration.
“This duplication has created uncertainty, blurred institutional mandates and, in some instances, avoided essential checks that exist to uphold public safety, national interest and professional integrity,” he told Parliament.
Mr Rabuka emphasised that Fiji’s professional bodies and immigration authorities possess the statutory authority and technical expertise necessary to assess qualifications and competence for work in the country.
“Their roles are integral in maintaining standards of service, protecting communities, and safeguarding our borders. These roles should not be weakened, compromised or overlooked,” he said.
He warned that allowing skilled professionals—particularly those in healthcare, engineering and specialised technical fields—to operate outside established vetting frameworks presents serious risks.
“Skilled professionals operate under strict regulatory standards designed to ensure competence and accountability. These standards should not be bypassed or weakened in the interest of expediency,” he said.
The Prime Minister also flagged concerns about immigration vulnerabilities, saying that fast-tracking work or residency permits under the 2016 Act “creates vulnerabilities that affect our national security and Fiji’s integrity as a destination for tourism and investment.”
By effectively creating “a second gate at the border,” Rabuka said the Act had undermined processes meant to protect Fiji from unqualified or unsuitable entrants.
He concluded by stating that repealing the Act is necessary to restore clarity and reinforce the country’s professional and immigration frameworks.
