High Court halts Fiji Water redundancies

FIJI Water has been ordered by the Lautoka High Court to halt planned redundancies of up to 50 workers following an injunction filed by the National Union of Workers (NUW).

Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Mohamed Mackie issued the injunction on Wednesday, restraining Natural Waters of Fiji Limited, its staff, or agents from proceeding with the redundancies until December 10, 2025.

The order was sealed and served immediately, with the matter returnable on November 10.

Fiji Trade Union Congress (FTUC) General Secretary Felix Anthony expressed concern over the impact on workers and their families.

“People are concerned because job security is very important. We have a situation where maybe 40 or 50 people may be losing their jobs,” Mr Anthony said.

He criticized Fiji Water management for failing to negotiate with the union regarding severance packages and selection criteria for redundancies.

“We have been trying to talk to management, but they seem to stonewall the union. This is not just about 40 or 50 workers — we are dealing with 40 or 50 families,” he said.

Mr Anthony suggested the redundancies could be linked to the current U.S. import tax policy, which has affected Fiji Water’s sales in the United States.

The union’s lawyer has formally served the company with the injunction orders, ensuring no redundancies proceed while legal and negotiation processes continue.