ERA will impact investment due to huge fines – Commerce and Employers Federation CEO

Investment in the country will be affected if amendments to the current Employment Relations Act come into effect as there are huge fines and the breaches would be criminalised.

This has been highlighted by Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation CEO Edward Bernard while speaking to fijivillage News after a consultation on the ERA and the Work Care Bill with employers at the Holiday Inn.

Benard says Fiji needs to move away from labour law reforms that just penalize employers and increase benefits for workers.

Some penalties include upto $1 million fine for non payment of wages and $200,000 fine for employers where sexual harassment has occurred at the workplace.

While referring to comments by Minister for Employment, Agni Deo Singh that discussions and consultations have been happening for two years, Bernard says in the two years, they found a lot of challenges in employment relations, and even up to the end where they were asked to sign the Non Disclosure Agreement.

He adds they are hopeful the Ministry will give more time for FCEF to give their submission.

Singh says he will need to talk to his Ministry officials if this can be accommodated.