New law to restore workers' rights

Fiji is on the path to restoring the rights of workers and employers that were stripped away through unilateral decrees after the 2014 democratic elections, says Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh.

Speaking at the opening of the Pacific Islands Council of Trade Unions (PICTU) Strategic Planning Workshop at Nalagi Hotel today, Mr Singh reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fair and inclusive labour laws.

Currently, the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs is conducting nationwide consultations on the Employment Relations Bill to gather feedback for refining the legislation.

The Employment Relations Bill is currently undergoing nationwide consultations led by the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. The aim is to gather public feedback and refine the legislation before it is tabled in Parliament.

Mr Singh acknowledged that, just like in 2014, the proposed reforms are facing resistance from some employers.

“They said, no, this is going to create havoc in the business sector. They said all the garment factories will close. But nothing like that happened after it became law,” Mr Singh said.

"Everything was normal except that the employers and workers all had their rights, and the laws were in place. So, the same is going on now."

He assured that once consultations are complete, the Bill will be brought to Parliament during its final sitting in late November and early December.

“It has been a long process, but we hope to deliver a reformed law that restores the rights of workers and employers that were previously taken away.”

Fiji Trades Union Congress general secretary Felix Anthony welcomed the reforms, calling them a step toward building stronger, more sustainable trade unions in the Pacific.

"It will be sustainable and that we will build stronger trade unions in the Pacific region. We will be able to communicate better with one another as we move forward. That has been the other big challenge that we have, that has been the communication between us."

The General Secretary of the ITUC-Asia Pacific Island Council of Trade Unions (PICTU) echoed the sentiment, describing the moment as a turning point.

"Today we are writing a new chapter. The partnership between ITUC-Asia Pacific and Union Aid Abroad -APHEDA, under the Partnership for Decent Work in the Indo-Pacific Programme, supported by the Australian Government and the ACTU represent a renewed commitment to the Pacific trade union movement.”

He added that the collaboration will strengthen PICTU’s organisational capacity and empower unions to tackle critical issues such as climate justice, fair migration, gender equality, and the digital transition.