The Government, the Fiji Trades Union Congress and the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation have reached an agreement on a joint implementation report that has been signed and submitted by the 3 parties to the ILO governing body.
During a press conference at about 10 o'clock last night, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted what they have agreed to.
Some of the major agreements include:
1. The restoration of Check‑Off Facilities which are the direct union fees deductions for civil servants who are members of public sector unions.
2. Reduction of the notice period for strike from 28 days to 14 days for those industries that fall under the essential services.
3. Removal of the reference to the Bargaining Units in the Employment Relations Promulgation and they have also removed through this agreement the restrictions that were placed on the bargaining union so workers can join any unions.
4. The other agreement reached is that some workers terminated during the operation of the Essential National Industries Decree now have the ability within 28 days to seek adjudication before the Arbitration Court. The redress they can get is by compensation which is restricted to $25,000 maximum. However anybody that has been terminated because of any established or proven corruption or abuse of office, fraud or theat whereby they already have criminal charges laid and they have actually being found guilty won’t have the ability to seek any recourse before the arbitration court.
Sayed-Khaiyum says the Employment Relations amendments will be presented to cabinet next week and they will also present the amendments by a bill to parliament on the 8th of next month.
Fiji Trades Union Congress General Secretary Felix Anthony says they have made good progress in this regard.
Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation CEO Nesbitt Hazelman says they are happy with the agreements reached.
The parties are expected to present the agreement to the ILO Governing Body in March.
