Misryoum reports a security firm is under investigation after a viral video raised concerns about a worker’s safety and treatment.
A viral video has prompted a formal investigation into a security company over allegations that a worker was mistreated and left in unsafe conditions.
Misryoum reports that Fiji’s Ministry of Employment has directed its Labour Inspectors to urgently assess the circumstances raised in the social media footage.. Permanent Secretary for Employment, Jone Maritino Nemani, said inspectors will review whether any provisions of Fiji’s workplace laws may have been breached.
Nemani said the ministry takes claims involving workers’ safety, dignity, and welfare seriously, noting that employers in Fiji have clear legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1996.
In this context, the timing and nature of the allegations matter: late-night duties and unsafe access arrangements are precisely the kinds of issues workplace laws are meant to address.
Nemani added that the obligation on employers does not end when a shift finishes. He said the law expects businesses to maintain safe work systems, including safe routes to and from workplaces, so far as is reasonably practicable.
He also pointed to the requirement for working environments to be safe and free from risks to employees’ health and safety, including appropriate systems, maintenance, and the right information, instruction, training, and supervision.
For private security companies in particular, Nemani said there are also industry-specific responsibilities. Under the Security Services Regulation 2015, transportation is required for security officers between 10pm and 6am when public transport is not reasonably available.
Misryoum notes that the ministry said it would not prejudge the outcome. However, Nemani made clear that enforcement action could follow if an employer is found to have failed its legal obligations.
Ultimately, investigations like this highlight how quickly workplace concerns can move from social media to formal compliance checks, affecting both workers and employers across the system.