Safety at Fiji Airports Compromised as Workers Protest Over Pay

Safety at airports in Fiji has been compromised as workers continue to take leave in protest over pay and working conditions. Faiz Khan, Executive Chairman of Airports Fiji in a statement said the company has held meetings with controllers and looks forward to further discussions.

According to reports, the majority of the country's air traffic controllers at both of Fiji's international airports have not been reporting to work since Monday this week. The protesting workers claimed that 80 per cent of the traffic control officers has taken various forms of leave as a protest over pay and working conditions. Only five officers have remained at their posts and are working round the clock at the Nadi and Nausori airport towers. On a normal shift, there are 17 officers on duty.

The workers claim that Airports Fiji Ltd has deliberately misrepresented their progressive salaries based on promotion and career progression, making it look like that they have received massive pay increases when in reality this wasn't the case. They said that they have met three times this week with senior managers of Fiji Airports Limited, including the executive chairman.