148 spot fines issued for non-compliance of minimum wage rate

A total of 148 spot fines ranging from $100 to $500 were issued by the Ministry of Employment to employers who have not paid the minimum wage rate or have not issued pay slips to their workers.

This was today revealed in parliament by the Minister for Employment Semi Koroilavesau when he was asked by government MP Viam Pillay about the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage Rate of $2.32 that came into effect on July 1st 2015.

Koroilavesau said the Labour Compliance Section has conducted a total of 1,147 labour inspections and recovered almost a total of $60,000 as at December 15th as the arrears of wages of the national minimum wage which is paid through the ministry to the workers.

The Opposition member Salote Radrodro then asked Koroilavesau how the enforcement of the national minimum wage rate of $2.32 will help people out of poverty when the minimum wage rate is low. 

The Minister said it is a matter of work in progress.