The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Filipe Bole confirmed that the ministry declined an application by Lolohea’s Meridian Service Agency Limited to enlist, recruit or deploy locals for any overseas employment, including the Middle East.
Mr Timoci Lolohea made an application last month for authorisation of his employment agency, the Meridian Service Agency Limited, under the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007 and its Employment Agencies Regulations 2008.
After due scrutiny by the Labour Ministry in relation to past recruitment failures of the agency and associated pending issues, the application by Mr Lolohea was declined by the permanent secretary. This outcome was also conveyed to Mr Lolohea and his team last Friday. His case with the Employment Relations Tribunal is still ongoing.
According to the ministry’s record, Mr Lolohea has also registered another company called the Phoenix Logistics Cooperation Limited whose principal place of business is located at 16 Belo Street, Samabula, Suva. Similar to the Meridian Service Agency Limited the new Phoenix Company intends to “engage in recruiting people who are interested in working overseas” .
The minister confirmed his ministry received a communiqué from the Prime Minister’s office this morning raising concerns over the significant number of people crowding Lolohea’s recruitment office at Belo Street. Also, the urgent need to close down the office since the Labour permanent secretary had not approved the Phoenix Logistics Company Limited for any enlisting, recruitment or deployment of locals for any overseas employment under the Employment Relations Promulgations 2007 and the relevant Regulations.
An investigation team from the ministry is undertaking compliance audits on both of Mr Lolohea’s recruiting companies with the view to ensure they do not undertake any enlisting, recruitment or deployment of any locals for overseas employment as directed by the permanent secretary.
Mr Bole appeals to Mr Lolohea and other overseas recruitment agencies to comply with all requirements of the reformed labour legislations to ensure they discharge their social responsibilities to our people in the spirit of good faith with good governance.
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