The Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) has defended provisions in the Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill relating to the powers of labour inspectors, saying recent claims about “unchecked authority” are misleading and exaggerated.
FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony said the Bill clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of labour inspectors and includes safeguards to ensure fairness in their work.
“Section 19A of the Bill defines the role of any labour inspector, which includes assisting workers and employers to resolve potential or actual breaches of the law,” Anthony said.
“It is not the case that inspectors can impose penalties at first glance. Improvement notices will be issued first, giving employers time to correct violations.”
He added that claims suggesting inspectors can confiscate property were “nonsense,” saying their authority is limited to examining and copying wage records where necessary.
“Inspections are part of their core duties, and their power to enter workplaces applies only during working hours. This ensures they can access 24-hour operations like factories or resorts. There’s nothing alarming about that.”
Anthony also dismissed claims that penalties under the Bill are excessive, particularly in relation to wage theft.
“We cannot condone employers who intentionally withhold wages, make illegal deductions, or fail to pay for overtime and public holidays.”
“Workers who steal face jail — and so should employers who do the same. That’s fairness.”
He said the Bill’s intent is to uphold international labour standards under ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which protect workers’ rights to choose between individual contracts or collective agreements.
“The choice between a collective agreement and an individual contract lies with the worker, not the employer. That’s guaranteed under the ILO conventions and the Constitution.”
Anthony also urged employers in the tourism industry to ensure workers receive fair wages and benefits, noting that accommodation and service costs had risen sharply in recent years.
“Hotel prices have gone up by 200 to 400 percent, including meals and beverages, yet workers are not seeing the benefits,” he said.
“If fairness is what we all value, then let’s start by rewarding workers justly.”
