Retention of employees has taken place due to our consideration of all circumstances, and not as a result of any input from FPSA, nor any legal proceedings - FRCS

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service says the Fiji Public Service Association’s claim that FRCS retained an employee who was identified for the proposed compulsory redundancy because the employee filed a grievance with the Employment Relations Tribunal, is incorrect and misleading.

In a statement, FRCS says when Jitendra Krishna filed a grievance with the Employment Relations Tribunal, the period of consultation and review process on the proposed redundancies were still ongoing as per FRCS notice of redundancy.

They say no decision had been made on the proposed redundancy, therefore the application made by the employee was premature.

FRCS adds apart from Krishna, there were other employees that have been retained by FRCS upon completion of the consultation and review process.

It also says the retention of these employees has taken place due to FRCS’ consideration of all the circumstances, and not as a result of any input from Fiji Public Service Association, nor any legal proceedings.

It says the retention of Krishna has nothing to do with any act or submission by FPSA.

Meanwhile, Fiji Public Service Association General Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh had told Legend FM News yesterday that in one case, the FPSA had taken the matter to the Employment Relations Tribunal and they won a case of Jitendra Krishna where the Tribunal gave the order with the consent of the FRCS, for Krishna to serve his contract until October 2022. He says other members were also asked to join the action with Krishna but they thought they will get one on one interviews with FRCS and retain their jobs.

Singh says they are planning to take more cases to the Employment Relations Tribunal after 89 workers of Fiji Revenue and Customs Service were laid off on Monday as part of proposed compulsory redundancies.

Singh says about 60 staff took voluntary redundancy and received the ex-gratia payment of $4000 plus one week’s pay for each completed year of service.

However he says the union is not happy as the 89 workers were let go on Monday after they were served a notice of proposed compulsory redundancy on November 19th 2021.

We have asked FRCS about the Fiji Public Service Association saying that 89 workers were let go after they received the proposed compulsory redundancy notice from Monday.

They have acknowledged our email but are yet to respond.

We are currently trying to speak to Singh in regards to the comments by FRCS.