Kumar questions absence of improvement notice provision in Employment Bill

Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, Premila Kumar says despite being briefed by the Ministry of Employment that MSMEs will first be given improvement notices for employment law breaches instead of a fine, they are concerned that this is not part of the Employment Relations Bill.

Kumar highlighted this while responding to questions on fines during the consultation on the Employment Relations Bill at the Labasa Town Council Chamber, saying that the fines were introduced as a deterrent to ensure businesses operate in the cleanest possible way.

She says MSMEs do not have access to professionals such as qualified accountants, OHS officers, or HR personnel.

Kumar says if something goes wrong, the Ministry of Employment has briefed them that improvement notices will be issued first, and various steps will be taken before any fines are imposed but their concern is that this process is not stated in the current legislation.

She stresses there has to be some reference made in the Act, and then they can develop the regulation, and that is something they will consider in their report.

Consultation on the Employment Relations Bill continues.