Fiji could face serious economic and development consequences if it fails to improve its efforts to combat human trafficking.
Immigration permanent secretary Aliki Salusalu issued the warning during a submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the Department of Immigration’s 2019–2020, 2020–2021, 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 annual reports this week.
He said Fiji remained under close scrutiny following a United States assessment of its anti-trafficking efforts.
“The TIP is trafficking in person, the TIP report that we received from the US,” Mr Salusalu said.
“On the report, it says that we probably didn’t do enough in terms of prosecution and in terms of enforcement.”
Mr Salusalu said Fiji was currently placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, a ranking that signals concerns over the country’s efforts to address human trafficking.
“So, the last report that was sent to us last year from the US, we were at tier two watch list.
“Many other countries, like Australia and New Zealand, they probably had tier two, but we are on the lower step watch list.”
He said Fiji had responded to concerns raised in the report and submitted information to US authorities before the end of March.
“We have done all the submission back to the US government last year and this year before the end of March.
“We are now under the new assessment, so if they find out that we didn’t do even enough, we’re going to be at tier three.”
Mr Salusalu warned that a downgrade would have far-reaching implications.
“I think that’s alarming for us, if we go down to tier three. Many things about trade, many things on section and development comparison will be affected.”
