The Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) has submitted a strike notice to the Registrar of Trade Unions due to ongoing grievances with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS). In a communication to over 300 members, FPSA secretary-general Judith Kotobalavu expressed significant frustration with the prolonged delay in addressing their concerns.
Kotobalavu noted that the association has been waiting for eight months, initially hopeful for a prompt resolution to their grievances. She emphasized that the 2023 Job Evaluation Exercise (JEE) report has not been shared or discussed with FPSA members at FRCS, raising questions about the rationale for implementing new salary structures for staff.
The FRCS completed a JEE in December 2023, suggesting a new salary band aligned with standards in the finance and banking sector. Kotobalavu pointed out that this situation poses serious governance issues at FRCS, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability to their members.
Due to the unresolved issues that have adversely affected them over time, the members chose to take further action, leading to the FPSA’s decision to pursue immediate industrial action. A recent meeting among FPSA members at FRCS concluded with a vote in favor of strike action.
Inquiries directed to FRCS CEO Udit Singh went unanswered. However, in an earlier communication from early August, Singh stated that the concerns raised by the FPSA had been forwarded to the board of directors for review, noting that the directors had queries that the management team was in the process of addressing.