Employment Ministry pushes for faster support for Fijian workers overseas

The Ministry of Employment is seeking to strengthen welfare support for Fijians working in Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on faster responses to urgent concerns and greater accountability among Country Liaison Officers.

Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Jone Maritino Nemani, highlighted the priorities while opening a two-day talanoa workshop reviewing the effectiveness of liaison officers under Fiji’s labour mobility programmes.

“Our workers are not commodities. They are Fijian citizens, and we have a responsibility to ensure that they are properly supported and cared for while working abroad,” Nemani said.

He said liaison officers serve as the Ministry’s frontline representatives, assisting workers and helping resolve issues involving employers.

However, Nemani acknowledged gaps in workers’ awareness of available support, communication channels and response times.

He called for mechanisms to ensure urgent worker concerns are addressed within 24 hours, without delays caused by administrative processes.

The workshop will review operational challenges, clarify responsibilities and develop practical measures to improve welfare services. It will also focus on measurable performance indicators to assess liaison officers annually and strengthen accountability.

Nemani acknowledged the support of development partners, Australian and New Zealand agencies, and the Fijian diaspora, saying closer coordination was essential to providing consistent and accessible assistance.

He stressed that workers’ welfare, safety and dignity must remain central to Fiji’s labour mobility arrangements.