Retention of employees has taken place due to their 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.

However FPSA General Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh says the FRCS statement is a face saving exercise.

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.

FPSA General Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh says the press release by FRCS that the retention of Krishna has nothing to do with any act or Submission by FPSA is a blatant lie when the Employment Tribunal has given an order in Krishna's case who was represented by Singh.

Singh says the misinformation and blatant lies is least expected from an important statutory authority who is entrusted to collect tax revenues on behalf of the Government.

He says is FRCS denying that the Employment Relations Tribunal did not deal with Jitendra Krishna's grievance and gave an order.

Singh adds the FRCS should refrain from defending the indefensible and learn to swallow their pride when they had to give a letter to Krishna to continue his employment with FRCS after the intervention by FPSA at the Employment Relations Tribunal.

He says this is supported by documentary evidence.

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 com-pulsory 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.