Permanent Secretary for Employment Osea Cawaru has reassured Fijian workers that their rights are well intact and protected under the 2013 Fijian Constitution and employment legislation.
He made the comment after Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) General Secretary Felix Anthony claimed that workers’ voices are not heard and that he has doubts that the $4 minimum wage rate might not come into effect on 1st January 2023.
Cawaru has made it clear that the Fijian Government, through the Employment Ministry is responsible for protecting the rights of all Fijian workers, which are safeguarded in the 2013 Fijian Constitution and Employment Relations Act (ERA) 2007, including the rights of trade unions.
Cawaru said Fijian workers are entitled minimum of 10 working days of annual holiday, 10 working days of sick leave and 3 days of bereavement leave and 98 consecutive days of maternity leave as stipulated under the Employment Relations Act 2007.
He said only Family care and paternity leave were shelved during the COVID-19 period.
“These rights are essential elements as Government’s key social partners to engage and bargain freely in respect to conditions of work through collective bargaining on workers’ behalf.”
“Trade Unions and employers have continued to enjoy the provisions of the Employment Relations Act 2007, the Health and Safety At Work Act 1996 and it’s subsidiary legislations in addressing workers’ issues through the tripartite consultative machinery in the Employment Relations Advisory Board, the National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Board and through the grievance and dispute settlement processes stipulated under the employment law.”
He added the right to strike and peaceful picketing is well protected by the Employment Relations Act 2007, where the registered trade union and workers will need to follow the due process as stipulated under the Act.
“On the $4 minimum wage rate, this was done in consultation with the tripartite partners and has been consistently implemented in the last 3 tranches.”
“The Employment Ministry will ensure that it follows through with the Gazette Notice on the implementation of the final tranche of $4 National Minimum Wages rates and the 10 sectoral-based minimum wages from 1 January 2023.”
The Ministry has so far conducted a total of 2,139 on-the-spot targeted Labour Inspections from 1 April 2022 to 30 November 2022 to ensure that workers are paid their rightful dues.
He also said the Ministry will continue to serve the needs of all workers (whether unionised or non-unionised members) and employers in ensuring social justice in Fiji’s workplaces.
