FIJI is stepping up efforts to fight human trafficking, forced labour and online exploitation as digital scams and fraudulent job offers increasingly lure vulnerable young people.
Daniel Tagivakatini, director of labour standards at the Ministry of Employment, said trafficking was no longer confined to traditional forms of exploitation and was now spreading into the digital sphere.
“Trafficking in persons is evolving at a rate that is very fast, and exploitation now extends into the digital sphere,” Tagivakatini told a World Day Against Trafficking in Persons event at the University of the South Pacific.
He cited local scam figures to underline the threat, saying Fiji had recorded about 1600 digital scam cases and losses of more than $FJD1.3 million during National Scams Awareness Week.
“Digital literacy is moving much slower than digital connectivity,” he said, warning that the gap was leaving job seekers and young people exposed to fraudulent recruitment schemes and coercion into unlawful activities.
Tagivakatini said exploitative practices remained a concern in sectors including fishing, construction and agriculture, where migrant workers could be at risk.
He said the government was amending immigration, employment and other laws, while also strengthening investigations, victim protection and cross-agency cooperation.
“We are strengthening our legal frameworks,” he said. “This is not a challenge any one nation or any one agency can face alone.”
He also pointed to Fiji’s position in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons report, saying it reflected the need for urgent action.
Tagivakatini said universities and civil society had a role in prevention, particularly through education, research and digital literacy.
“It therefore plays a pivotal role in building awareness, promoting digital literacy, and empowering youth to recognise exploitation tactics,” he said.
He urged people to report concerns, support victims and work with authorities to stop trafficking and scams.
“Together, we can create a safer, a more resilient Fiji and the Pacific, where every person can be protected, empowered, and free from exploitation.”
