Unions strike back

WORKER’S unions have struck back at the recent decision by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) not to endorse the draft Employment Relations Bill (ERB) in its current form. In a strongly worded statement issued this week, the Fiji Trade Union Congress (FTUC) accused FCEF of deliberately delaying the process of getting the ERB to parliament.“The FTUC is no longer surprised with FCEF’s most recent press release and retraction of its position in the last meeting,” FTUC national secretary Felix Anthony said.

“This review has been in place since 2012, some 13 Years now.“FCEF has been involved in this process all along.”Mr Anthony said the FTUC and Government are “not prepared to continue discussions for another few years.



”“Employers in Fiji have long discouraged workers from joining unions by giving non-members similar benefits negotiated by unions. The message from employers is that there is no need to join unions when you can get those benefits for free, thus weakening unions. This has to stop.

”He said FTUC was “saddened by the position taken by FCEF.”“In the last meeting it was agreed by all that written submissions would be considered by the Ministry and that both FTUC and FCEF were free to make further submissions which the Ministry would consider.“FTUC has made written submissions.

“It was agreed that the Bill will proceed for legal vetting and to Cabinet.“This is again another retraction from FCEF. This is indeed a demonstration of bad faith,” Mr Anthony saidIn a statement last week, FCEF said it will not endorse the draft Employment Relations Bill in its current form.

Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated April 10, 2025.The post Unions strike back appeared first on The Fiji Times..