A construction company found housing workers in a poorly ventilated shipping container has been issued a stop work order and ordered to find alternative and suitable accommodation by today.

It has also been fined $10,000 for underpaying its employees.

The directive from the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations follows a joint investigation by the ministry’s Labour Standards and Occupational Health and Safety Compliance officials.

A report on the inhumane treatment of the workers was lodged with the ministry by both local and migrant workers who are currently engaged in construction work at a prominent resort in Rakiraki.

Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh said the issues were serious as they included inhumane living conditions, unpaid wages and lack of proper personal protective equipment.

“The workers were found to be housed in a shipping container within the resort premises, lacking proper ventilation,” he said.

“Cooking inside the container posed severe risks, including suffocation, burns, electrocution, and explosion.

“The employer failed to pay the current applicable wage rates as required by law and the provision of proper personal protective equipment was not provided to the workers which compromises their safety.”

Mr Singh said the ministry would not tolerate such inhumane treatment for both local and migrant workers and will ensure that non-compliant employers were taken to task.

He said the Division of Anti-Human Trafficking Services of the Fiji Police Force had been alerted to investigate potential elements or indicators of forced labour or human trafficking.