The Suva Retailers Association is urging the Government to make the controversial proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act (ERA) public for broader discussion. The association has backed calls from the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEFG) and the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) to take into account the concerns of employers by reevaluating the proposed “harsh elements” of the amendments.
It emphasized the need for stakeholders to work together to find solutions that would protect workers while also enabling businesses to prosper. SRA president Jitesh Patel stated that the prospect of fines reaching $500,000, potential imprisonment for up to 20 years, and mandatory mediation services are “very concerning” to their 150 members and could negatively impact their initial business outlook.
Mr. Patel mentioned that the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) imposed by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations on employer members of the Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) has hindered their ability to engage freely with other employer members regarding the proposed amendments. He pointed out that most of the SRA’s members are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), employing over 3,500 workers, predominantly women.
“Our retail businesses and workers also support hundreds of other businesses, including the government sector and thousands of workers in the city,” he added. He noted that members continue to face challenges such as high operational costs, a lack of skilled labor, low productivity, and the impact of climate events.
The SRA has called on the Government to provide clarity by releasing the proposed amendments, enabling a meaningful discussion with ERAB members. The association is also advocating for a return to a tripartite setup, allowing ERAB members to negotiate the proposed changes to the ERA on behalf of SRA in a transparent manner.