FTUC raises concerns over labour violations in security industry

The greatest violations they experience are in the security industry, where proper wages, overtime, and meal allowances are not paid, unlawful deductions are made from workers' wages, and security officers are required to pay for their uniforms and safety equipment.

This has been highlighted by Fiji Trade Union Congress National Secretary, Felix Anthony, while responding to questions from the media after a public consultation session on the review of the Employment Relations Act and the Work Care Bill at the Suva Civic Centre.

Anthony says the industry is in total disarray, though there are some good employers as well but he has also called for security licences to be scrutinised more closely and for the Ministry of Employment to be involved in the process.

He believes one of the requirements for issuing a licence should be that any company must comply with labour laws.

He says if companies are found not to be in compliance, their licences should not be granted or should be revoked.

While speaking during the consultation, a representative from the Fiji Islands Security Employers Association says they employ more than 20,000 people, most of whom cannot secure white-collar jobs.

He says they provide all the necessary training to put an officer on the ground, but there is nothing in the Act to protect employers.

The industry representative says that when an officer commits a minor infringement and then moves to another company, there are no provisions in the Act to protect the company from this.

He says there is also no provision allowing employers to recover costs if their property, such as vehicles, are damaged by employees.

The Employment Ministry's Deputy Secretary for Operations, Atish Kumar, says they have received the proposal, and it will be considered.

Meanwhile, USP Staff Union General Secretary, Reuben Colata, says university staff are entitled to 20 days of leave per year, but the university expects everyone to take their leave at the end of the year when operations close.

He says that if employees do not have any leave days left towards the end of the year, they earn them in the next 12 months.

While responding to the concerns, Kumar says that an employment contract or a collective agreement, depending on the organisation, will address its aims and goals.

He says the law cannot be overly prescriptive, as every industry is different.

Meanwhile, the deadline for written submissions has been extended to this Friday.