A growing coalition of business leaders is echoing the earlier call for transparency in the formation of laws related to employment, initially raised by tourism leader Fantasha Lockington. Concerns have resurfaced regarding the draft Employment Relations Bill, two years after similar grievances from business leaders were highlighted.
Recent changes to this draft have heightened frustration over how it was created, with Mrs. Lockington asserting that it was developed without appropriate consultation with business owners or their representatives. This issue has been brought to light by the chief executive of the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, revealing an attempt to silence business leaders within the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation.
Mrs. Lockington expressed her dissatisfaction after receiving the latest draft of the Bill with unexpected amendments. She emphasized that the process should involve discussions and consultations rather than simply allowing submissions, which she believes would be futile since the draft was already prepared.
Labeling the process as unlawful, Mrs. Lockington has taken a bold stance, reminiscent of manufacturer Mike Towler’s previous criticisms more than two years ago. Mr. Towler criticized the ministry for procrastinating instead of addressing concerns from the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation regarding delays in negotiations on changes to the Employment Relations Act. He also lamented the government’s failure to rectify the unlawful process associated with increasing the national minimum wage.
In response, the Employment Ministry stated its commitment to promoting inclusive dialogue regarding the review of the Employment Relations Act. Minister Agni Deo Singh asserted that the ministry has been actively engaging with its tripartite partners to ensure compliance with international labor conventions on these consultations. However, Mr. Towler challenged this assertion, claiming that it is the Ministry of Employment acting in bad faith, not the Federation.
Additionally, Mr. Towler criticized Minister Singh’s competency in managing the proposed Employment Relations Act, urging him to distance himself from his union background. He suggested that it may be time for Mr. Singh to step down or be replaced by someone more qualified for the ministerial position.