Small businesses say employment bill punishes employers, ignores absenteeism

Small business owners say the proposed Employment Relations Amendment Bill is heavily focused on penalising employers but fails to address one of their biggest daily struggles — workers who simply do not turn up.

Suva Retailers Association President Jitesh Patel raised the concern yesterday during a submission before Parliament's Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, saying productivity had been completely left out of a bill that is supposed to improve it.

"In the morning we wake up, we'll see a message — 'sir, I'm not coming to work today' — that's it," Mr Patel said.

"We as employers have to go through so many phases before we make a worker redundant. Where is the protection for the employers?"

Mr Patel said employees can resign overnight with no legal consequences, while employers face heavy fines and lengthy processes before taking any action against a worker.

He said the Ministry of Employment's perception that all employers are wealthy was also unfair, particularly as businesses continue to absorb rising costs from recent policy changes.

"The concept from the Ministry of Labour is that any employer is a wealthy employer. But businesses have to stand up and sustain the increase in doing business," he said.

When contacted, Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh said he could not comment as the matter was before Parliament. Committee member Semi Koroilavesau acknowledged the imbalance raised by the association.

"The committee as a whole understands the imbalance between the requirement to be complied by the private sector and the issue addressing productivity," he said, adding that flexible working hours were being discussed as a possible solution.

Deputy Chair Premila Kumar invited the association to make further submissions specifically on productivity mechanisms that could be included in the bill.

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