Two Years On, Government Kicks Can Down Road

A growing number of business leaders have backed an earlier warning by tourism leader Fantasha Lockington for transparency in drafting laws governing the employment sector.

The resurfacing of concerns, linked to the draft Employment Relations Bill, comes two years after SunBiz first published an outcry from business leaders on similar challenges.

This time, more changes to the same document has fuelled further angst about the nature in which the draft was drawn up, which according to Mrs Lockington, was carried out without prior consultation with business owners or their respective representatives.

The challenge this week, initiated by Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association chief executive officer, brings to light a clandestine operation that attempted to suppress the voice of business leaders at Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation.

“We were provided a draft Bill yesterday afternoon (Monday, October 15) without warning, that has new additions,” Mrs Lockington said of the recent fourth draft.

“The whole process is about consultation, not submissions.

“It wouldn’t make a difference if we put in a submission because they had the draft ready anyway.

“They’re supposed to sit with us to discuss; but we get that they did not want to justify each change.”

Unlawful Process

Mrs Lockington is brave to lead the charge more than 24 months after manufacturer Mike Towler aired his views on the same challlenges.

“ I t i s the ministry that has been twiddling its thumbs and kicking this can down the road rather than Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation,” Mr Towler said from Australia yesterday.

“Why do you think Fantasha went public on this issue?

“If FCEF was the cause of the delay, she would not be out there in the media c a l l i n g out the ministry’s inaction on negotiations to changes to the Employment Relations Act.

“Also, the Government has done nothing to resolve the unlawful process to increase the national minimum wage and the sectoral wage council increases.”

The Employment ministry said it was committed to “fostering inclusive good-faith and dialogue on the review of the Employment Relations Act”.

Minister Agni Deo Singh, said The Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations is committed to fostering inclusive good-faith dialogue on the review of the Employment Relations Act 2007.

He said the ministry “has been actively consulting its tripartite partners - Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation and Fiji Trades Union Congress - on the Employment Relations Act review in compliance with the International Labour Organisation) Convention 144, on tripartite consultations”.

But Mr Towler called his bluff.

“The Ministry of Employment is the one who has been acting in bad faith, not Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation,” Mr Towler said.

Mr Singh and the ministry’s media liaison officer Elina Vuniwa are out of the country and did not respond to queries from SunBiz.

Resign 

Mr Towler also questioned the incompetence of the ministry in handling the proposed Employment Relations Act.

He issued a reminder to Mr Singh to maintain his independence from his background in unionism.

“Has he forgotten that he is no longer a union representative,” Mr Towler said.

“He is now a minister and should act as one.

“Time for him to resign or be sacked and get someone who is capable of doing the job of a minister rather than a shop steward.”

Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj