Cabinet has endorsed Fiji’s tripartite delegation to the upcoming 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 14 June 2024.
The ILC is an annual ILO event that brings together representatives of governments, workers, and employers of ILO member States.
During this conference, broad labour policies are adopted by the ILO.
Tripartite group meetings are held before the ILC prior to the opening session to elect members of various Technical Committees.
As a member State, Fiji is obliged under the ILO Constitution to send a tripartite delegation to participate in the annual ILC.
The delegation will update the ILO on the progress made by Government in ensuring better employment relations post-pandemic and assistance provided to workers and employers.
The delegation will meet with the ILO Labour Standards team and will present Fiji’s response when called to the the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards and to the Committee of Experts on the Application of Standards and Recommendations (CEACR) on the corrective actions the Coalition government had taken since coming into office in implementing the recommendations of the ILO Committees.
Members of the delegation include Minister of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, as the Government delegate and head of the delegation; Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations (Permanent Secretary), as the second Government delegate; a Senior Officer from the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations as the Government advisor for International Labour Standards reporting; Chief Executive of Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation, Jonetani Tonawai as delegate representing the Employers; National Secretary, Fiji Trade Union Congress, Felix Anthony as delegate representing the Workers; and the designated representatives from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Fiji to the United Nations Office in Geneva to support the delegation.
The delegation, will also meet with the ILO Director General and update him on the progress made by the Coalition Government in the following key areas:
1. reconstituting the Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) in line with ILO Convention 144 (Tripartite Consultation) and the continuous and regular ERAB meetings since the Board was reconstituted;
2. the engagement of a Consultant via the ILO to review the Employment Relations Act 2007 and the work of the ERAB sub-committee in spearheading the consultative review process;
3. the amendment to the List of Essential Services under Schedule 7 of the Employment Relations Act 2007 (ERA) to comply with ILO Conventions that Fiji has signed and ratified;
4. amendment of Section 111 (2) of the ERA to revert the time limit for reporting of employment grievances from 21 days to 6 months; and
5. a general report on tripartism and good faith discussion in workplace relations including the right to strike which is an option under the Employment Relations Act 2007 for workers and Trade Unions in dealing with workplace disputes.
