Opposition Leader welcomes signing of Tripartite Agreement

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has also welcomed the signing of the Tripartite Agreement between the government, the Fiji Trades Union Congress and the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation.

Ro Teimumu said the agreement was a breakthrough and she welcomed the efforts of all those responsible for achieving the agreement.

She said a lot of work remains to be done, however given that the agreement provides the parameters in which the participating organizations will conduct their discussions, there is hope that the ultimate outcome will be in the best interests of all the people of Fiji.

The Opposition Leader has called on all parties to the agreement to act in good faith in their deliberations moving forward.

The government, the Employers Federation and FTUC have agreed that the review of labour laws conducted under the Employment Relations Advisory Board mechanism should ensure compliance with ILO core Conventions.

They also agree that any further issues and recommendations for review should be negotiated through the same mechanism.

Any such issues and recommendations shall take into account the findings of the review to be presented by way of a bill to parliament no later than the August 2015 session.

It says the Employment Relations Advisory Board shall vet the bill before it is presented to cabinet and then to parliament.

The agreement further says that the bill once approved by parliament shall be implemented by the end of October this year.