“‘Shine A Light’: 34 Bangladeshis Treated Inhumanely for 5 Months”

A local construction company had unlawfully housed 34 Bangladeshi workers in poorly ventilated shipping containers for five months in Volivoli, Rakiraki.

Pacific General Builders is based in Lautoka. The company was registered in 1991 and is owned by Sunil Prasad.

Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh released a statement on Tuesday saying his ministry was aware of the situation and the matter was being investigated by the Division of Anti-Human Trafficking Services of the Fiji Police Force for potential elements of forced labour or human trafficking.

Mr Singh went on to say that the company was issued a stop work order and a $10,000 fine for breaching part of the employment regulation…

… like other migrant workers, Bangladeshi workers are susceptible to unfair working conditions in Fiji…

Some of the workers who we conversed with said they signed a three-year contract to construct a resort in Volivoli, and they’d just completed their fifth month working as builders for the company…

Pacific General Builders’ owner Mr Prasad disputes the claims that his workers were housed in poorly ventilated shipping containers…

We had informed Mr Prasad that we were supplied photos of the workers’ bedding and kitchenware inside the containers…