ANZ reviews Essential National Industries and Designated Corporations decree

ANZ Banking Group is now reviewing the Essential National Industries and Designated Corporations decree after being listed as a designated corporation under the decree.

ANZ CEO Norman Wilson said the bank respects and complies with the laws of Fiji, and takes its responsibilities to employees seriously.

Wilson said ANZ has communicated with its employees today and assured them and the government that, as always ANZ will act responsibly in light of this recent development.

He said ANZ is committed to consulting with its employees as it considers the decree and its implications.

The designated corporations announced so far are ANZ Banking Group, Bank of Baroda, Bank of South Pacific, Westpac, Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority, FINTEL, Telecom Fiji Limited, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Air Pacific, Fiji Electricity Authority and Water Authority of Fiji.

Under the decree which now applies to the companies listed as designated corporations, all existing collective agreements which were negotiated by the unions and the employer will only be valid for a period of 60 days while new or replacement collective agreements are negotiated.

The decree states that all existing collective agreements in the designated corporations shall be null and void and no longer binding between the parties.
 
For the companies declared as designated corporations, all members, office bearers, officers and executives of the union within the designated corporation must be employees of the corporation.

This means that any union executive or official who is not part of the company’s workforce cannot be the company’s workers union representative.

If the employer under the decree has suffered operating losses for two consecutive years, it shall have the immediate right to re-negotiate all its existing collective agreements.


Story by: Vijay Narayan