The Fiji Trade Union Congress (FTUC) has expressed surprise at a recent statement from the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) and the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA), which voiced serious concerns about the proposed amendments to the Employment Relations Act.
Since 2012, FTUC and FCEF have collaborated on the review of labour laws, aiming to align with International Labour Organization (ILO) core Labour Standards and address issues identified in ILO reports over the years. National Secretary Felix Anthony noted that the previous government annually assured compliance with these core standards, and the current Coalition Government made similar commitments during the election campaign.
Anthony highlighted that the FTUC identified issues contributing to industrial unrest, while the employers did not raise any specific concerns. He explained that a detailed process was followed in multiple meetings to finalize the review, although while over eighty percent of the matters were agreed upon, some disagreements remained, particularly on penalties. The FTUC advocated for stricter penalties to deter employers from violating laws, which, they believe, are currently ineffective.
The FTUC stated that the Government shared a draft of the amendments with both the employers and trade unions for feedback, claiming that while it provided comments, the employers did not respond. The FTUC also raised concerns about omitted agreement points during discussions.
Additionally, Anthony noted the employers’ attempts to postpone meetings regarding the review process, which they perceived as a strategy to delay finalizing the amendments before a September deadline.
He criticized the previous government’s tenure as favorable primarily for employers, pointing out that during those years, workers and unions faced significant challenges. The FTUC condemned the employers’ narrative about potential economic fallout and job losses following regulatory changes, labeling it as a tired and discredited argument.
The FTUC accused FCEF of suggesting that labour laws should not be uniformly applied, particularly when it comes to wage theft and violation of workers’ rights by some employers. Anthony further argued that larger employers within FCEF and FHTA often hide behind small businesses when resisting compliance.
Finally, the FTUC called on the Government to uphold its promises to Fiji’s workers and ensure adherence to ILO standards. They emphasized the importance of accountability and protection for workers’ rights.