Fiji PM Rabuka orders investigation into ‘plight’ of Bangladeshi workers

The workers complain that “improper living conditions” have soured their work experience in Fiji, reports say

Photo: Fiji Government/Facebook

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has ordered the country’s immigration and employment authorities to look into complaints of 26 Bangladeshi workers over “improper living conditions”.

These Bangladeshi expatriates work at a local supermarket in Fiji’s Central Division, a social media post by the Fiji government said on Thursday.

Rabuka met the group of Bangladeshi earlier this week and they told him about “improper living conditions, insufficient food supplies, and alleged breaches of their employment contracts”, it said.

“No worker should live in conditions that compromise their dignity,” the post quoted Rabuka as saying.

“Following the law is one thing — but doing what is right for your workers is another.

“We have Fijians working overseas and we don’t want them to be ill-treated. We should also do the same for foreign nationals working in Fiji.”

The overseas Bangladeshi workers have been employed at the supermarket for some time, claiming that the circumstances have restricted them from enjoying their work experience in Fiji, it added.

Rabuka also called on the employer to urgently “improve the workers’ living arrangements and uphold their basic welfare needs”.