Goundar denies mistreatment claims, blames recruitment agents

Goundar Shipping Limited (GSL) managing director, George Goundar, has dismissed all claims regarding the alleged mistreatment of 32 Filipino seafarers, stating that the issue lies with the employees’ agents, not his franchise.

His defence follows revelations by Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Agni Deo Singh, who confirmed that GSL was blacklisted after the controversy involving the foreign workers.

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Agni Deo Singh in Parliament on September 30, 2025.

Photo: Parliament of Fiji

In an interview in Nadi yesterday, Mr Singh said the workers were repatriated earlier this month by their government, and GSL is now banned from sourcing workers from the Philippines.

According to Philippine news reports, the workers were promised a monthly salary of over $2,000 but received only about $700, often paid late.

The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers has since launched an investigation into the employer and the recruitment agency involved.

When questioned last night, Mr Goundar expressed his frustration, saying he had already been cleared by Fiji’s Department of Immigration, Ministry of Employment, and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).

Mr Goundar said that all foreign employees applying to work for him were always advised to follow Fiji’s labour law. He said that regardless of the contracts signed in their home country, once in Fiji, it is imperative to comply with local labour regulations.

“If you want to come and work freely, that’s your call. Your government cannot stop you; the same applies to anyone who wants to work for us,” he said.

“They come on their own terms, but they must apply through Labour, and then it goes to the Department of Immigration.”

Despite being blacklisted, Mr Goundar confirmed that he had already approved contracts for Filipino seafarers to work for him.

“We have a few approved to come because Fiji does not have qualified seafarers, especially for tankers, and my vessels have been halted since last month,” he said.

“We had a meeting with Immigration last week and they said, ‘As long as I’m following Fiji’s labour laws, then everything should be good.’ If I have to hire Filipinos again, then I will.”

He compared the situation to a previous case involving Bangladeshi workers, where he claimed the real issues were with the recruitment agency, not Goundar Shipping.

“If the Filipino government has a problem, they should take it up with the agents,” he said. “If Agni Deo is accusing me, then I will take him to task because they are defaming my company.”

Mr Singh confirmed yesterday that the Filipino workers were paid before they left.

“We know that those workers were actually paid before they left. Our officers will confirm that,” he said.