The Coalition of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is urging the Government to ensure transparency regarding the proposed amendments to the Employment Relations Act.
In a joint statement, the MSME Coalition emphasized that the Government should at least lift the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) enforced by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations on employer representatives of the Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB). This would allow for open discussions among MSME representatives concerning the amendments.
The coalition expressed serious concerns over recently disclosed potential fines and prison sentences included in the proposed changes, which were highlighted by the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF) and the Fiji Hotels & Tourism Association (FHTA). They also expressed alarm that these amendments could potentially circumvent cost-effective and favored mediation services.
The MSME Coalition acknowledged the Trade, Cooperatives, MSME and Communications Ministry for making significant strides in enhancing the MSME ecosystem in Fiji. They referenced the National Development Plan (NDP) launched by the Ministry of Finance, which aims to increase MSME contributions to the GDP to 20% by 2027.
However, they cautioned that the proposed penalties, which could reach as high as $500,000 in fines and up to 20 years of imprisonment, could hinder the progress made for MSMEs by both ministries led by Hon. Kamikamica and Hon. Prasad. The coalition believes that these amendments contradict the Coalition Government’s objectives for MSMEs and the broader private sector advancement.