A PUSH back to the proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act (ERA) is building up in the private sector, with the Fiji-Australia Business Council (FABC) now joining in the chorus of concerns.
In a statement issued this week, FABC warned that the proposed changes would “create a negative domino effect in the Fiji economy, threatening all the hard work that the private sector has been doubling on to recover and grow further.”
“The Fiji-Australia Business Council’s mandate is focused on growing business and trade relations between Fiji and Australia, and their members are composed of business leaders and representatives from both countries,” it stated.
“The decades-long work on building these bilateral relationships, strategic partnerships and investment ties has been arduous, and for FABC, when there is a lack of transparency and considerable consultations on serious matters such as changes to the Employment Relations Act (ERA), it dismantles the very principles on which the Council stands.”
The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) and the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) had recently called out the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations for the fines of up to $500,000 and imprisonment of up to 20 years that have been included in the draft bill to amend the ERA as well as what they claim was a “lack of transparency” on the proposed amendments.
This brought the Government to the table and a meeting was held between Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh and representatives of FCEF and FHTA.
“The discussions included how we progress the input on the draft ERA amendments through an agreed to timeline for tripartite discussions that will commence next week,” they stated in a statement issued on Monday last week.
“The Employer reps look forward to being part of this process as all parties are expected to commit in good faith to achieving the proposed timelines in getting the draft ready for presentation to the Solicitor General’s Office, Governments Development Subcommittee, then onto Cabinet and Parliament respectively, as discussed with the Ministry.
“The Bill is then earmarked for further examination and public consultations through the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee.”
FABC said the voice of business was pivotal in driving investments and growth in Fiji and in this case, “that voice needs to resonate and be heard.”
It has also called on the Ministry of Employment to maintain a more inclusive and consultative approach.
