Business leaders have increasingly supported a call from tourism executive Fantasha Lockington for greater transparency in the formulation of laws impacting the employment sector. These renewed concerns surround the draft Employment Relations Bill and arise two years after an initial wave of protests from business leaders highlighted similar issues.
The recent revisions to the draft have intensified worries over how the document was prepared, as Lockington asserts that it was done without consulting business owners or their representatives. This challenge was prompted by the CEO of the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, shedding light on what appears to be attempts to silence business voices within the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation.
Lockington revealed, “We were presented with a draft bill unexpectedly on Monday, October 15, which included new components. The entire process should involve consultation rather than mere submissions. Providing a submission wouldn’t have mattered since they had already prepared the draft.”
She emphasized the need for discussions, pointing out that it seemed the authorities avoided justifying the alterations made to the draft.
In remarks echoing a similar sentiment voiced by manufacturer Mike Towler over two years ago, Lockington’s call for accountability persists. Towler criticized the Ministry for its inactivity, stating, “The ministry has been procrastinating instead of addressing these issues.”
He raised questions about Lockington’s public stance, suggesting that if the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation was responsible for the delays, she wouldn’t be in the media denouncing the ministry’s lack of action in negotiating amendments to the Employment Relations Act. Furthermore, he highlighted the government’s failure to resolve issues surrounding the increase of the national minimum wage and adjustments by the sectoral wage council.
In response, the Ministry of Employment stated its dedication to fostering inclusive dialogue regarding the review of the Employment Relations Act, with Minister Agni Deo Singh asserting that the ministry has been consulting its tripartite partners in accordance with the International Labour Organisation’s Convention on tripartite consultations.
However, Towler contested this claim, asserting, “The Ministry of Employment has acted in bad faith, not the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation.”
With both Singh and the ministry’s media liaison officer, Elina Vuniwa, currently out of the country, they were unavailable for comment.
Additionally, Towler questioned the ministry’s competence in handling the proposed Employment Relations Act and suggested that Singh should recognize his current role, distinct from his former union representation. “He needs to remember he is now a minister and should behave like one. It’s time for him to resign or be replaced by someone fit to fulfill the role of a minister rather than merely acting as a shop steward.”