Over 250 migrant worker exploitation cases uncovered in Fiji
To fill labour shortages, Fiji has welcomed foreign workers from countries such as Bangladesh and India, but many have faced exploitation at the hands of local employers.
Wednesday 30 July 2025 | 23:05
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons panel discussion at the University of the South Pacific in Suva on July 30, 2025. Picture: Jernese Macanawai
Fiji's Ministry of Employment has investigated more than 250 reports of migrant worker exploitation in the past three to five years.
Director of labour standards, Daniel Tagivakatini, revealed that workers, particularly from Bangladesh, India and the Philippines, often signed contracts that differed from those they had initially agreed to or could not read.
"Some of them couldn't understand English, and that created a vulnerability when they came in and signed a contract without knowing what it was," he said.
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To fill labour shortages, Fiji has welcomed foreign workers from countries such as Bangladesh and India, but many have faced exploitation at the hands of local employers.
Mr Tagivakatini said the ministry often intervened and repatriated workers to their home countries when their employers refused, in addition to other efforts to provide support.
"That's why we work closely with Immigration in terms of facilitating their repatriation and strengthening our coordination with them," he said, adding that they hoped to reinforce that partnership in the future.
"That's all we can do for now, given our limited resources," Mr Tagivakatini said.
"Working together, piggybacking on other agencies' processes, makes our work easier and more efficient."
Feedback: jernese.macanawai@fijisun.com.fj
