Fiji Moves To Attract Foreign Skilled Workers

Fiji has announced its plan to revamp its Immigration Department in an attempt to attract skilled workers from other nations to address job vacancies within the Pacific island country.

Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua, said, on Thursday, that Fiji currently faces a critical shortage of essential skills, posing a threat to the nation’s economic advancement.

He said that countries like the United States, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates have achieved dynamic economies by sourcing skills from other nations, stressing Fiji’s need to adopt a similar approach, as reported by Fijivillage news website.

Tikoduadua noted that Fiji lacks adequate construction workers, mechanics, and machine operators, necessitating an adaptation of the immigration policy to tackle these challenges.

Furthermore, the government is set to introduce simplified procedural changes within weeks, significantly streamlining the Immigration Department’s workload and expediting permit application processing times.

The minister highlighted plans to reduce documentary requirements, accelerate payment and certification processes.

Additionally, he said that immigration officials would emulate the strategy of other nations by identifying priority skill sectors, minimising documentary prerequisites in these areas.

(Xinhua/NAN)