IN a live submission to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs in Parliament yesterday, former Fiji rugby sevens star and Olympian Isake Katonibau proposed the formal recognition of national sports representatives as workers under the proposed Work Care Bill 2025.
Mr Katonibau stressed the need for policy reform that would acknowledge the role of national athletes and their contribution to the country, both on and off the field.
“The reason I’m here is to seek formal recognition for all national sports representatives as workers under the Work Care Bill 2025,” Mr Katonibau said.
“There’s a lot of demand from the public, from athletes and communities across the world who rely on our services, yet we lack the resources to meet those needs.
“These athletes gave their all for their country, but they are not included in key policies – that needs to change.”
Mr Katonibau said national sports representatives were formally selected, trained and deployed under government authority, similar to military peacekeepers of which he is one.
“This bill already provides the legal language to recognise them as such,” he said.
“Rugby demands a lot from you because it’s quite physical, it demands a lot of physicality and in this high risk, you get injured.
“When I’m in the military, and I get injured, this bill qualifies me, I get covered, but the rest of my brothers don’t.
“They don’t get qualified because they’re not recognised as workers, they’re recognised as athletes.
“We are not here to change the bill or the law, we’re asking to recognise athletes as workers.”
The Work Care Bill 2025, formally known as the Bill No. 7 of 2025, is a proposed legislation aimed at reforming the country’s worker’s compensation system.
The bill includes provisions to address workplace injuries and accidents, including those resulting from stress-related or occupational health conditions.
