The much-debated Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill 2025 will not be presented in Parliament this week, with its introduction now delayed until March 2026. This change follows the recent adjournment of Parliament, which will reconvene in the first week of March.
Speaker Filimone Jitoko announced to Parliament this morning that he had received a request from the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs for more time to conduct further consultations regarding the bill. This decision comes as the bill faces significant backlash from the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC). The FTUC has criticized the Parliamentary Sector Committee responsible for reviewing the bill, alleging a lack of urgency and independence in their process, claiming it has generally adopted an anti-union and anti-worker stance.
Felix Anthony, the National Secretary of the FTUC, expressed that the union has “lost faith” in how the Committee is managing the legislation, especially since it was referred to them nearly a month before public hearings were initiated. Furthermore, the Fiji Employers Federation has also called for the postponement of the law to allow for broader consultations with concerned parties.
The ongoing dialogue around this bill underlines the importance of stakeholder engagement in legislative processes, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach that addresses the concerns of both workers and employers. While the delay may be a source of frustration for some, it could ultimately lead to a more comprehensive and mutually agreeable piece of legislation.
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