High staff turnover is forcing the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) to engage temporary custodial officers to monitor inmates during operations outside of the prisons.
While replying to a motion to debate the review of FCS’s 2017-2018 annual report, Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said that was an area of concern given the international benchmark ratio of one officer to five inmates.
And for programs like Operation Musu Dovu where inmates were engaged to cut cane under the watch of corrections officers, temporary custodial officers were recruited to assist with manpower.
“As clarified by the FCS, temporary reliving custodial officers were engaged for three months period during Musu Dovu operations,” Mr Turaga said.
“The services of these temporary living custodial officers were usually terminated after the completion of the works and this contributed to the high number of turnover recorded for 2017-2018 period.
“Government will also be looking at a new policy in terms of reengaging in terms of assisting in the Musu Dovu operations.”
He also commended the FCS’ commitment towards improving gender neutral policies in the workplace.
“It was noted the FCS was evidently a male dominated working environment, and rightly so at a point in time, however, society has evolved.
“There is also a growing population of female inmates. That is why there is also a shift in terms of the employment of officers to look at gender imbalance.
“It is also notable that female officers have progressed into prominent positions within the FCS. A good illustration of that is the acting commissioner.”
