Foreign workers pay up to $15,000, face exploitation in Fiji: Rights Commission

Foreign workers are paying up to $15,000 to recruiters to come to Fiji, only to face exploitation and unfulfilled promises upon arrival.

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission revealed this yesterday during the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs hearing on the Employment Relations Bill. Some workers have reportedly sold land or taken out mortgages to pay middlemen.

Commissioner manager Complaints Mithleshni Gurdayal said workers often sign two different contracts with conflicting terms.

“Some of them have actually sold their land. They’ve got a mortgage,” Ms Gurdayal said.

“They sign two contracts, one in Bangladesh in their language, and they are shown bigger money that they will be receiving this particular amount per hour. But when they actually arrive here, things are different.”

She said some workers sign blank sheets without knowing what employers would later add to the documents.

The commission has dealt with Bangladeshi workers experiencing severe mental stress, with some waiting five months without income while under immigration care.

Director Loukinikini Lewaravu said the commission has received growing complaints about human rights violations including little to no wages, poor living conditions, and workers being forced to eat leftover food.

“There have also been incidents where foreign workers are quickly put on the plane to be flown back to their home country so that employers are not held accountable,” Ms Lewaravu said.

The commission recommended that Immigration and the Ministry of Labour work together when vetting visa applications and contracts.

“We recommend that there should be regular spot checks for foreign workers,” Ms Lewaravu said.

Ms Gurdayal called for all relevant agencies including Immigration, Ministry of Employment, Human Rights Commission and Police to work together to address recruitment exploitation.

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