Employment Ministry Refutes Claims on Labour Officers’ Conduct

The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations has rejected claims made by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) about the conduct of Labour Officers.

The Ministry said it values ongoing discussions with employers and welcomes feedback that can help improve its services. However, it said it has investigated the matter and found the claims to be incorrect.

Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh said the inspection in question was a routine check carried out by two Labour Officers, and that three other workplaces in the same building were also inspected on the same day.

He said this shows that the business belonging to the FCEF member was not singled out.

According to the Minister, FCEF claimed the officers questioned the employer about a video they were producing. The Minister clarified that the officers were simply asking about the “nature of business,” which is required for the inspection report.

The inspection report found the business had breached important legal requirements under the Employment Relations Act 2007:

Section 45: The employer did not keep wages and time records.

Section 44: The employer did not provide wages statements to its workers.

Minister Singh said these are not small mistakes, but key legal requirements that protect workers and ensure transparency. He said in cases like this, the Ministry must take action.

The standard procedure is to issue the employer a 30-day notice to fix the breaches, followed by another inspection to check compliance.

The Ministry said Labour Officers follow the law and official procedures, and there are internal systems to deal with any officer who acts outside these rules. But the Ministry also said it will defend officers when they are doing their work properly.

The Ministry also noted that the timing of the public complaint comes during parliamentary consultations on the Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill. The Ministry encouraged employers to raise concerns through official consultation channels rather than making statements that may cause unnecessary worry.

The Ministry said the FCEF CEO should have reached out for clarification before making public comments.

The Ministry has invited FCEF and other employer groups to continue working together to support fair and lawful workplaces in Fiji.