The Ministry of Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations have successfully prosecuted Timoci Tupou Lolohea on two (2) counts under the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007.
Mr Lolohea was fined $5,000 on the first count for enlisting, recruiting and deploying persons for overseas employment without the authorisation certificate from the Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations.
The Hon. Jioji Konrote, Minister for Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations said there are labour laws and processes that need to be adhered to.
“Section 37 (4) of the ERP 2007, requires any person or company that is operating an employment agency must have a certificate of authorisation issued by the Permanent Secretary, and this was not followed by Mr Lolohea,’’ explained the Minister.
He was also fined $1,000 on a second count for the wilful obstruction of a Labour Inspector which is contrary to Section 246 (1) (a) of the ERP 2007.
In total, the High Court ordered Mr Lolohea to pay the total fine of $6,000 on or before the 7th of April, 2015.
The Employment Minister confirmed that other likeminded people or agents, who try to hoodwink ordinary Fijians in the name of employment opportunities overseas, will be taken to task.
“My Ministry has formed a taskforce with the Fiji Police Force and the Commerce Commission to stop these illegal and unauthorised employment agencies from recruiting our locals for overseas employment,” said Konrote.
He warns that the full brunt of the law will come into force on those who try to exhaust the system.
Moreover, Minister Konrote is urging all agencies wishing to operate an employment agency to comply with the labour law and apply for the certificate of authorisation from the Ministry of Employment
He appealed to all employment agencies and citizens to work within the labour laws for a safe, healthy and productive Fiji.