Fiji Times, Monday 13 February 2023

There are 282 Fijian aged-care workers employed by Health-X across Australia.

This, according to a statement on the Fiji Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations social media page yesterday. It said that after a bilateral meeting with the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh visited the aged-care workers who are employed with Warrigal in Goulburn, New South Wales and Health-X in Gordon, Canberra.

“Tears of joy, happiness and laughter were shared by the workers, the residents and also visitors who were present in this small remote town as our Fijian workers greeted the Employment Minister and his delegation,” it said.

“These sentiments were also shared by the host employers, who shared the huge impact that our workers are having on the ground and the joy that our workers are providing to the residents."

“The workers were grateful for the Fiji Government’s commitment to acknowledge their sacrifices and also visit them.”

Mr Deo also had a bilateral meeting with Australian Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke.

“Discussions with both the Australian ministers mainly focused on strengthening the Vuvale Partnership and also raised concerns on a number of issues that our Fijian workers are facing such as cost of accommodation and transport.”

Mr Deo will also visit the Fijian workers in the meat industry.