Ministry punishes Bhima and Pacific General Builders

Following a report on inhumane working conditions by local and migrant workers currently engaged in construction work at a resort in Rakiraki, main contractor Shiu Nandan, also known as Bhima, and subcontractor Pacific General Builders have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Labor. Productivity and relationships in the workplace.

The ministry has named the companies involved after Rup Investments Limited clarified that Wananavu Beach Resort in Rakiraki is not the company under investigation for housing workers in a poorly ventilated shipping container, following a report in the Fiji Times.

This makes it clear that the company being talked about is not Rup Investments Limited.

The ministry had previously said that Bhima Construction was the main contractor, but after Bhima Construction raised concerns with fijivillage News that they had nothing to do with this, the ministry confirmed that it is not Bhima Construction, but Shiu Nandan, also known as Bhima.

The ministry said labor standards and working conditions officials conducted a joint investigation into the company’s inhumane treatment of workers.

Labor Minister Agni Deo Singh says the problems are serious, including inhumane living conditions, unpaid wages and a lack of proper personal protective equipment.

He says the workers were housed in a shipping container on the resort grounds, without proper ventilation.

Singh said cooking in the container posed serious risks, including suffocation, burns, electrocution and explosion.

In response to queries from Fiji Village News, Singh confirmed that the workers have been relocated.

He says Shiu Nandan has been given a stop-work order, while Pacific General Builders has been fined $10,000.

He further says that the employer has failed to pay the current applicable wage rates as required by law and the employees have not been provided with proper personal protective equipment, compromising their safety.

The Department has issued a requisition notice to the construction company to obtain the necessary documents as required under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1996.

Singh similarly said that an improvement notice and prohibition notice has been issued to both the employer and the resort to stop work and shift the employees to proper accommodation with decent living conditions as this is against the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act. and Safety at Work (General Conditions of Employment) Regulations 2003.

He says that failure to pay the minimum wage as required under section 55(2) of the Employment Relations Act (ERA) 2007 resulted in a fixed penalty notice being imposed on the employer and the enforcement team ordered the employees to be removed from their current accommodation . and instructed the employer to find alternative and suitable accommodation.

The minister said the contractors have been warned to stop work until the workers are relocated and provided with proper personal protective equipment.

He says they have also been advised to pay employees for a period of work stoppage as it is not their fault.

Singh emphasized that the ministry will not tolerate such inhumane treatment of both local and migrant workers and will ensure that employers who do not comply are held accountable.

He says that due to violations of labor law, the construction company will be fined $10,000 for failing to comply with the ‘duty of care’ provisions laid down in Section 9 (1) and (2) of the Health and Safety at Work. Action.

Singh says the fine must be paid by November 11.

The minister said that, in line with the review of the Industrial Relations Act, the increase in fines for non-compliance by employers as part of the review is considered a deterrent to future misconduct.

He adds that employees must be treated with respect, dignity and fairness; and all employers must maintain the highest standards of employment practices to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all.

Singh also stressed that the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Fiji Police Force has been alerted to investigate possible elements or indicators of forced labor or human trafficking.

Police confirmed that the Human Trafficking Unit of the CID headquarters is investigating the case.