Recruiting expatriates

OPPOSITION Leader Sitiveni Rabuka is absolutely correct in stating that recruiting expatriates is a lose-lose proposition for Fiji and a disloyalty to our citizens (FT 11/01).

This issue of concern is nothing new and all past and present governments have failed to recognise the ability and enthusiasm of locals to take up middle and senior management positions.

While certain expatriate positions are required, it is policy that these positions have a training program where a local understudies the expatriate to take over after the expatriate’s term expires.

For a company to recruit an expatriate, it is policy to justify the need to hire the expatriate. It is also policy that the company advertise the position and an analysis of local applications received be produced at the Immigration Department with the reasons why the applicants are not suited for the position.

The questions I have are: How definite is Fiji Immigration that these requirements are adhered to? What’s stopping a company from not giving a detailed analysis of local applications? What if the company chucks a very suitable local applicant’s application into the bin so as to give way to an expatriate? I also wish to ask how definite and sure is Fiji Immigration that understudies are in place and that the training program provided is adhered to? Are regular checks being made that each and every expatriate position literally has an understudy and that the local is advancing towards filling the position at the end of the expatriate’s two to three years contract?

There is a tendency and assumption with many foreign investors that locals are not as suitable as they would like them to be, or in many cases they judge on pure assumption. The fact of the matter is, locals are very hands-on people and when provided with an opportunity to engage in direct practical experience with the money to match, they strive.

In support of the local workforce our Immigration Department needs to up its game and be more vigilant and thorough with its work ethics, for I believe the paperwork provided by these companies is nothing else but paperwork without any undertaking.

As Fijians, we need a win-win proposition in this regard!