Singh blames former employment ministers for erosion of workers’ rights

Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh turned on Opposition Members of Parliament last Friday, accusing former Labour ministers on the other side of the House of allowing workers’ rights to be stripped away for more than a decade.

Mr Singh made the attack while responding to Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma’s end-of-week statement on workplace harassment, bullying and worker dignity.

“The government (FijiFirst) was the worst employer,” Mr Singh said, pointing to employment contracts imposed on civil servants, union leaders being victimised, and workers living in fear of losing their jobs.

He singled out former Labour Minister Jone Usamate, saying rights were eroded under his watch — a claim that sparked a heated exchange on the Parliament floor.

Mr Usamate fired back, saying he was not minister when the alleged abuses began and called on Mr Singh to “speak truth in this House.”

Speaker Filimone Jitoko asked Mr Singh to withdraw the broader claim, which he did.

Mr Singh said Government had been reviewing labour laws since coming to power in December 2022 and expected the Employment Relations Bill to be introduced at the next sitting of Parliament.

“Then all the rights will be truly reinstated,” he said.

The minister said workers had suffered under toxic workplace conditions from 2011 to 2022, including union leaders being transferred, demoted and locked up for speaking out.

Mr Sharma had earlier called for harassment complaints to be resolved within six months, whistleblower protections, and chairs for workers in stationary positions such as supermarket cashiers.