ILO mission meets with government and unions

The International Labour Organization mission has started holding talks in Fiji to review the obstacles to the submission of a joint implementation report of the government, employers and the Fiji Trades Union Congress.

The ILO Tripartite Mission is to prepare a report, which is to be submitted to the March session of the ILO Governing Body before a decision is made on whether there will be a Commission of Inquiry into Fiji.

The team met Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama earlier today.

Employment Minister Semi Koroilavesau says discussions with the ILO team was fruitful today and they will now await an update from the team after they meet with the Employers Federation and the unions.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum says Fiji’s laws state that employees can join a trade union.

He says if you are in a bargaining unit, you can be a member of a bargaining unit and you can also be a member of a union.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds that employees have the liberty to go on strike depending on the type of industry they are employed in.

He says workers in an essential industry can also go on strike but they have to give 14 days’ notice.

Meanwhile FTUC General Secretary Felix Anthony also met with the ILO team earlier today.

Anthony says they have made their position known to the ILO team.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says FTUC had earlier threatened the government that if they call any other union, FTUC will not be part of the Employment Relations Advisory Board or ERAB.

He says every single meeting of ERAB has been recorded and will be given to the ILO mission.

When questioned by Fijivillage, Anthony denied that threats were made but he made it clear that FTUC should be the only union in the Employment Relations Advisory Board.