Workers hired over a three-month period at an international resort on the Coral Coast were exploited and mistreated, leading to a labour dispute, says National Union of Hospitality, Catering and Tourism Industries Employees (NUHCTIE) general secretary Daniel Urai.
Mr Urai revealed this during the Nadi consultations on the Employment Relations Amendment Act with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs this week.
While he did not divulge the name of the resort, Mr Urai said hotel workers were often scrutinised by employers for the most minor issues, and at times, leading to termination.
“This week there was a resort in the Coral Coast. They hired workers, never gave them contracts, employed them for more than three months, never gave them a payslip, never paid their FNPF,” he said.
The issue came to light after the workers joined the union.
“They were taken in, called fancy names, did the same work the other workers were doing, but paid less wages, and were never paid sick leave.
“The minute these workers don’t deliver, they will be terminated.”
Mr Urai said the union hoped to bridge the gap between employers and employees to ensure fair treatment.
Phone calls made to Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
Questions were also sent to the ministry’s director labour standards, Atish Kumar.
