CR Engineering is asking people with information about the workers' whereabouts to get in touch with the company. Photo: 123rf / AtlasStudio
Fijian immigration authorities are investigating a case of eight migrant workers from Bangladesh absconding earlier this month.
Local engineering company CR Engineering is seeking public assistance to locate the whereabouts of the Bangladeshi nationals.
The company said in a public notice on 16 November that workers are in the country under work permits contracted to CR Engineering.
CR Engineering is asking people with information about the workers' whereabouts to get in touch with the company.
RNZ Pacific contacted CR Engineering on Friday for comment. We did not receive a response.
RNZ Pacific also contacted the Fijian Immigration Minister Pio Tikoduadua and the Fiji Police for comment.
In an email response, Tikoduadua said "the department of Immigration is aware of the issue and is investigating the matter".
He told The Fiji Times on 19 November, "I dont know where they are, but I am appealing to the migrant workers to declare themselves to the police."
"They should be confident that the police will hear their case out with fairness," he was quoted as saying.
Fiji Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the police would "revert once we are able to gather the responses as requested".
The eight Bangladeshi nationals who have absconded. Photo: Screenshot / Fiji Sun
In July, Tikoduadua told parliament that Bangladeshi nationals received the highest number of work permits - 713 out of almost 3000 - from January to July this year. The majority of these workers are employed in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
Earlier this month, the Fiji Sun newspaper reported that CR Engineering had reported that five workers left their accommodation at Tavakubu in Lautoka, three months into their employment, leaving without notice.
The newspaper reported that four months later, the remaining workers also failed to show up at their designated office at Navutu, Lautoka.
The country's Employment Minister Angi Deo Singh told Fiji Sun that foreign workers who had issues with their employers need to address them directly.
"Running away and disappearing will only worsen the situation," Singh was quoted as saying.
"Eventually, you will be found, and if your contract is terminated, the Immigration Department will deport you."