More layoffs at FRCS expected as voluntary redundancies offered to workers

More layoffs are expected at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service as all workers of FRCS have been offered the option of voluntary redundancy again.

This is the second time FRCS is offering voluntary redundancies.

In a letter to all FRCS workers, Acting CEO, Jonetani Vuto says the global pandemic has been continuously impacting the economy and given the process of automation with the introduction of new taxpayer online services, they anticipate streamlining of business operations and roles to create a leaner organization structure.

The voluntary redundancy option is based on a expression of interest process.

The staff are being offered 1 weeks pay for each completed year of service, certificate of service, salary up to and including last day of employment, all legal entitlements such as leave pay and ex-gratia payment of $2000 which is only available for the voluntary redundancy offer.

FRCS says they retain absolute discretion whether to accept or decline any expression of interest for voluntary redundancy.

The offer closes next Monday.

Fiji Public Service Association General Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh says they had taken the matter to the Arbitration Court as the organised meetings with the former Acting FRCS CEO were cancelled 3 times.

Singh says the union wanted FRCS to include a section that the 83 border control workers will be recalled when the borders reopen however this was not agreed to by FRCS. He says the Arbitration Court also ruled that FRCS can make workers redundant as there is no job for them based on the pandemic declared an Act of God.

More than 60 FRCS employees took the package in December while 83 border control workers were let go.

Meanwhile National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says 155 FRCS workers have already lost their jobs through redundancy and voluntary redundancy and 105 more are being targeted in the second round of redundancies.

In a statement, he says if no or few employees express interest to leave their jobs, then FRCS will enforce compulsory redundancy to meet its target of shedding 260 employees or 25% of its workforce.

We are currently awaiting a response from Acting CEO of FRCS.