The National Employment Centre has expressed its concerns over companies taking advantage of its clients.

NEC manager Seruwaia said during the Employers Forum at the Lautoka Hotel yesterday, that this was an area they were looking into.

“We have to ensure that our clients are being protected,” Ms Waia said.

She said many clients of NEC were exploited by employers who made them work long hours without pay or only at the pay of $30.

“Currently we are signing MOA for Work Attachment and Allowance only and not for permanent employment,” she said.

Under the NEC, attachees are paid $30 by NEC while the other $30 are paid by the employees for the period of six months.

But she said employers who were wanting to further employ the attachees would not be getting the $30 as the attachment timeframe was for six months.

Moreover she stressed that employers failed to adhere to the NEC Decree.

“Employers do not adhere to NEC decree, especially they do not give Certificate of Work Place Attachment which is in Part 8, Section 59 and as well the Discrimination/Harassment which was in Part 2, Section 9,” Ms Waia said.

Fiji National Provident Fund inspector Sanjesh Padiyachi told participants that FNPF can deducted from an attachee’s allowance.

NEC attacments at FSC

At a similar forum in Ba, Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) human resources manager, Vinesh Narayan suggested that all vocational students register under National Employment Centre for better attachment benefits.

His comment comes following a question asked by the Fiji National University, National Training and Productivity Centre’s Division, manager technical training Ruveni Lewetuitovo.

Mr Lewetuitovo had requested if the NTPC students could get an attachment with the FSC as FSC had been declining to take in any students.

Mr Narayan explained that it was not easy to allow any student for attachment at the FSC because the risks were high.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

arishma.narayan@fijisun.com.fj