Union warns Suva City Council over unpaid performance bonus payments

The Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) has warned it will take "further appropriate action" if the Suva City Council fails to explain why promised performance payments to council staff remain unpaid.

In a strongly-worded letter on Thursday, FPSA general secretary Judith Kotobalavu said the council's "continued failure" to pay the bonuses was "unacceptable" and risked "unnecessary industrial unrest".

"The failure to honour a promised payment, or to transparently explain the reasons for its non-payment, undermines employee morale, erodes trust," Ms Kotobalavu wrote.

She demanded the council provide written reasons for non-payment, confirm whether it intends to honour the payment, and provide a definitive timeline within 14 days.

The performance payment is stipulated under Clause 1.7 of the SCC/FPSA Collective Agreement as an incentive linked to performance and service delivery.

SCC response

SCC chief executive officer Tevita Boseiwaqa told the Fiji Sun on Friday the council would respond to the letter.

"I'm on leave now. I'll start on Monday and then we'll respond, obviously," Mr Boseiwaqa said.

He confirmed assessment of the performance payment was ongoing.

"Just before Christmas, we paid for the sick leave entitlement – we paid that – it's done. So the next one, the performance bonus," he said.

Mr Boseiwaqa said the council was mindful of staff welfare and rights as they were "the main factor in a productive workplace".

FPSA also sought an update on its 2025 Log of Claim submitted in July, which was to await a council decision at its final 2025 meeting.

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