With the continued support from the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), there is a need for everyone to re-evaluate and revive our basic human values. Values that our elders and forefathers taught us like love, kindness, respect, loyalty, hard work, and unity.
This was the message by the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Hon. Agni Deo Singh today (21/08/2023) at the Pacific Churches Consultation on Pastoral and Practical Care for Migrant Workers and Transnational Organised Crime, currently held at the Pacific Theological College (PTC).
Minister Singh while delivering his remarks highlighted that part of the program is something that is very close to his heart and that is the welfare of all Fijian migrant workers.
“This includes not only Fijian workers that participate under our bilateral arrangements with Australia and New Zealand, but also migrant workers arriving in the country, to fill some of our domestic labour – force needs.”
In his remarks, Minister Singh reiterated the recent Nation-wide address by the Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka that there is no doubt that we are going through a period of great disruption, unpredictability, and global uncertainty.
Minister Singh added that these challenges are having serious social and economic ramifications, impacting virtually every aspect of our life and communities.
“In noting the opportunities together with the growing challenges under the labour mobility programs, my Ministry has recently developed a policy framework to try and address these challenges.”
“We have just completed the appointment of our first Country Liaison Officer (CLO) for Australia to assist other stakeholders such as Church Groups, NGOs, Diaspora Community Groups in providing pastoral care and welfare support.
“Also, a Framework on Labour Mobility was developed and a Matrix of issues and potential mitigation strategies to minimise these assorted people issues for our workers abroad.”
“We acknowledge that this commitment at the Employment Ministry level alone, is and will not be enough. Thus, this is another opportunity for the Ministry to continue to collaborate and seek technical support and assistance from our bilateral and international partners in combating our current challenges.”
“We have acknowledged that labour mobility is a global trend and individual countries or governments cannot address issues and challenges alone.”
“Therefore, gathering for consultations such as this, to share experiences and best practices and identify contributing solutions is the way forward,” added Minister Singh.
The employment minister reiterated the need to work more closely with each other, from village and community level, up to national level, regional and global level. This will ensure that while we share experiences and best practices in pastoral and practical care for all migrant workers, we are also combating transnational organised crime effectively.