The Ministry of Employment has reported handling 48 complaints from injured workers regarding the non-payment of two-thirds of their weekly wages during the last financial year. Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh addressed Parliament, indicating that 44 of these cases were successfully resolved through various employer engagements and joint meetings. However, four complaints are still under legal review by the Office of the Solicitor-General.
During his address, Mr. Singh emphasized the importance of linking compensation to enforcement, asserting that this approach encourages more responsible behavior from employers and educational institutions. He also highlighted a significant financial benefit resulting from the transfer of processing employment and school accident cases back to the ministry, which saved the Government an estimated $1.2 million annually by eliminating outsourcing to third-party service providers.
“The entire processing is now handled by my ministry, which employs experienced staff formerly associated with the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF),” Mr. Singh stated, indicating a streamlined approach in managing these responsibilities.
In previous discussions, Minister Singh pointed out that the government anticipated saving approximately $1.8 million annually with the transfer of functions back to the Ministry of Employment. This change was part of an effort to address a substantial backlog of cases and improve efficiency in resolving employment and school accident claims.
Furthermore, the ministry’s mediation service has reportedly resolved 80 percent of the employment issues it has handled over the past 18 months. This success reflects a dedicated commitment from the government to enhance the compensation process, promising a more equitable and efficient framework for both injured workers and their employers.
These ongoing initiatives aim to build a robust compensation system that supports workers and encourages compliance among employers, paving the way for improved worker welfare and potentially setting a precedent for similar reforms in the future. Through these efforts, the Ministry of Employment aspires to foster a safer and fairer work environment across the region.