FTUC says Federation is delaying amendments to ERA

The Fiji Trades Union Congress says they are surprised at the recent statement issued by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation and the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association expressing grave concern over the proposed amendments to the Employment Relations Act.

General Secretary Felix Anthony says the FTUC had commented on the draft Bill, while the Federation failed to act at all.

The General Secretary says the government attempted to call a meeting of the Employment Relations Advisory Board Sub Committee responsible for the review in early August this year.

Anthony says the FTUC was prepared to attend, while the Federation advised that they were too busy to attend until the end of the month which was simply an attempt to delay the process so that the September deadline would not be met.

He says the government then convened the full Employment Relations Advisory Board meeting, which was attended by all parties, including the CEO of FHTA, Fantasha Lockington.

Anthony claims as soon as the Permanent Secretary welcomed all to the meeting, the employers’ representatives decided to walk out and did not participate, nor did they respond to the government’s invitation to comment on the draft Bill.

The General Secretary says they are aware that the government has repeatedly invited the Federation to participate in good faith in the process but was unsuccessful.

He says yet they hear of the CEO stating that all parties must come and discuss at the table.

Anthony says it has become clear that the Federation has no intention of participating in the process, nor do they want to see changes to the ERA despite agreeing to the process and the terms of reference as stated.

He says the same Federation had no issues with the previous government when it imposed changes without any consultation with the tripartite partners.

Anthony says the Federation was silent on the process, which it harps about now, having not diligently participated.

The General Secretary says the new proposed changes have become unacceptable to them, making it hard for the Federation to accept and adjust when during those years, workers and trade unions suffered and were targeted.

Anthony says the same old threats about the economy, business closures, and job losses, which have been touted by employers for decades whenever any changes occurred, are old and discredited time and again.

He says it is not acceptable for the Federation to disregard workers’ rights simply because they are small or medium-sized.

He further says the big employers who are members of the Federation and the Hotel and Tourism Association are attempting to hide behind the small employers as they usually do.

Anthony stresses the law, as it stands, does not comply with the ILO Standards and the Report of the Experts.

He says they are very disappointed with the conduct of the Federation in recent times, which they note is being disruptive and merely trying to delay the conclusion of the review.

The General Secretary has also highlighted that it is time that the Hotel and Tourism Association concentrate on its members and stop exposing our hotel industry as a fine example of corporate greed.

Anthony says they have seen that hotel rates have shot up by more than 300 percent, while workers have been given a wage adjustment of only 3 to 5 percent and in some cases none so far.

The FTUC is urging the government to ensure that they stand by the promises they have made to the workers of Fiji and their commitment to the ILO without any further delay.

Questions have been sent to the Hotel and Tourism Association CEO and Federation’s Employment Relations Advisory Board representative, Fantasha Lockington. She is yet to respond.