Short-term employment contracts deny workers job and livelihood security, says Finance Sector Managerial Staff Association national secretary Sailesh Naidu.
Mr Naidu said this while delivering the association’s submission at the Employment Relations Amendment Act Lautoka consultations this week.
Considering the shortage of workers across various industries, Mr Naidu said the trade union movement in Fiji did not support short-term employment contracts.
“It is the position of the union that every worker must have the freedom to decide to join a trade union and be covered under a collective agreement negotiated between the union and the employer,” he said.
Post 2022 General Elections, Mr Naidu said the Government commendably moved away from short-term contracts in the civil service.
“However, it is concerning that certain large employers such as Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) and some municipal councils continue to rely on fixed-term contracts, despite repeated objections from the unions.”
Mr Naidu said short-term employment contracts could be weaponised against workers to perform better merely to secure renewal while also subjecting them to inhumane and borderline coercive treatment resembling forced labour practices.
“Therefore, we fully support the proposed amendment that reinforces a worker’s right to join a union and be protected under fair and secure employment conditions.”
