Fifty-six businesses from Ba have delivered a joint submission to Parliament, declaring they “do not support the amendments that in any way affect our business’s cost of operations” in the Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The 17-page submission warns that the proposed changes will impose crippling financial and administrative burdens on employers while ignoring Fiji’s critical skills and labour shortages.
The submission, signed by companies ranging from large manufacturers to small retailers, lists eight major objections.
They include “instant fines” for employers of up to $1,000, “absolute liability” for underpaid wages even if caused by mistake or oversight.
They also oppose fines and monetary penalties soaring to $1 million and jail terms for employers, including directors of corporate employers.
The companies oppose making employers criminally liable for workplace issues such as sexual harassment or unjustified dismissals and expanding the powers of labour inspectors, including the power to prosecute employers for failing to comply with directives and imposing “bargaining fees” on non-unionised workers when unionised employees receive any improvement in their terms
“The Bill fails to address Fiji’s ongoing skills and labour crisis with no regard to the impact on businesses and economic growth,” the businesses stated.
As private companies investing in the Fijian economy through employment, taxes, and growth, the signatories urged the committee to reject the amendments outright.
