The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) says Fiji’s corporate sector has yet to demonstrate genuine zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, following the hiring of a senior executive by Sun Insurance who was recently convicted of sex offences.

FWRM alleges that the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) and the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) failed to act on written concerns raised by shareholders over the appointment of Mohammad Nouzab Fareed, claiming their inaction placed female employees at risk.

According to the organisation, several shareholders had emailed Sun Insurance expressing concern over Fareed’s appointment, but the company did not respond. FWRM said it later reported the matter in writing to both the SPX and RBF, but no action or response was apparent.

FWRM noted that while Fareed was entitled to the presumption of innocence before the recent court ruling, he had previously been convicted of indecent assault in December 2021 when Sun Insurance appointed him as Chief Transformation Consultant.

The organisation said Fareed was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, before that conviction was overturned by the High Court in 2022.

FWRM Executive Director Nalini Singh questioned what she described as the lack of urgency shown by both regulators despite receiving written warnings from shareholders.

She also claimed the Reserve Bank failed to apply its own “fit and proper” assessment standards during the hiring process.

Singh argued that workplace protections should prioritise safeguarding employees, particularly where senior executives hold positions of authority over staff.

She further warned that failure to address such issues could create a precedent for other listed companies and called for stronger regulatory oversight.

FWRM is urging all publicly listed companies to adopt mandatory zero tolerance policies on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH), with leadership training beginning at board and executive level.