Government is hoping that the International Labour Organisation will decide against sending a Commission of inquiry to Fiji after it makes its presentation in Geneva this week.

The ILO revealed that they were deferring their decision on a Fiji Commission of Inquiry to its 326th Session of the Governing Body in March 2016.

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Semi Koroilavesau told the Fiji Sun from Geneva yesterday that they would be making a presentation to the ILO on the issue on Wednesday.

“We will not rest in trying to meet the ILO requirements and we will work together with stakeholders to see that the issues are resolved,” Mr Koroilavesau said.

“Our presentation will include the work that we have been conducting with stakeholders for the last three weeks and we hope to get a positive feedback from the ILO.

“The main issue that will be tabled at the presentation is the Tripartite Agreement that was supposed to be signed last month.”

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has questioned the role of a relatively small group of trade unionists. He says they cannot be allowed to hold the counwith threatened economic damage.

“We are not anticipating a Commission of Inquiry and are working hard to achieve this,” Mr Koroilavesau said.

“We are working with the Fiji Trades Union Congress and all the institutions under them; our major concern right now is to try to resolve the issues raised by ILO.”

Meanwhile, the rival Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions (FICTU) general secretary, Attar Singh, said: “It’s very important for everyone to understand

that the laws that we are complaining about and the laws that are subject to the Commission of Inquiry are laws that favours the employers against the workers.

“When the draft was presented to us, we didn’t like it so that’s where the matter lies so we will now wait for ILO representative and whatever the next steps would be, we will follow that.

“If ILO decides as it is in the draft decision, than there is likely to be a tripartite mission coming into Fiji and if that happens we will co-operate with the mission because at the end of the day the intention is to try to resolve the matters that are in dispute and those are the rules we have been complaining about; if that happens than the matters will be resolved,” he said.

Mr Koroilavesau said Attar Singh was entitled to his own opinion and it was his democratic right.

Attempts to get comments from Fiji Trades Union Congress general secretary, Felix Anthony, were unsuccessful when this edition went to press.

Feedback:  arieta.vakasukawaqa@fijisun.com.fj