A call has been made for the removal of a new Form 9 provision in the Employment Relations Bill No 27 of 2025, as it allegedly bypasses the successful mediation process that resolves most employment disputes.
Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation board member Watisoni Nata told Parliament’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs that Fiji’s mediation system had an impressive record, with more than 80 per cent of cases settled amicably between employers and employees.
“It fast-tracks and allows the Ministry of Employment to bypass the mediation process and take things straight to court at the Employment Relations Tribunal,” Mr Nata said.
“These are both for criminal offences and both for civil offences as well.
“What we’re worried about is there’s already a process for employment grievances that goes through mediation, and that’s a particular process that’s more appealing to employers and it’s more conducive in terms of the civil remedies that the law already provides for. Since the establishment of mediation services, the Government has invested millions of dollars to operationalise and train mediators through the Singapore Mediation Centre,” Mr Nata said.
“In addition, the mediation services under the Ministry of Employment have been provided adequate resources, amounting to approximately $1million in the current budget. Why do we still need Form 9 in this Bill to fast-track the disputes to court?”
Mr Nata urged Parliament to reconsider the clause and preserve Fiji’s reputation as a country that promotes dialogue in industrial relations.
