FIJI’s participation in the Global Coalition for Social Justice signified a commitment to advancing social justice ideals both domestically and on the world stage.
Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh said Fiji’s membership of the International Labour Organization initiative provided an opportunity to share ideas, best practices and leverage collective expertise and resources.
“The Global Coalition plays a crucial role in advancing social justice through various initiatives and policy interventions,” Mr Singh said.
“Fiji has been implementing various measures to address social justice under its employment relations legislations.”
Mr Singh said among these initiatives was the revoking of the COVID-19 mandatory vaccination of workers and the re-establishment of the Employment Relations Advisory Board.
“In realising labour rights as human rights, the Fiji Government has revoked the COVID-19 mandatory vaccination for workplaces as regulated under the Health and Safety at Work Act where workers who were terminated under the regulations may reapply and return to work without restrictions.
“The ministry launched the first Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) meeting for 2023 with equal representation from employers, workers and government constituents on 8 February 2023.
“Prior to this, the last Employment Relations Advisory Board had been heavily dominated by the government for over a decade.”
Mr Singh said the full participation of members is a testament to the government’s commitment to ensuring both workers’ and employers’ rights are well protected under employment laws.
According to the ILO, the Global Coalition for Social Justice is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at intensifying collective efforts to urgently address social justice deficits and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Decent Work Agenda.
