The Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) is calling on the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) to increase the redundancy package earmarked for the 102 staff members who will lose their jobs on December 21.
The union wants an immediate meeting with acting FRCS CEO Fay Yee to discuss the issue.
“We fail to understand why the acting CEO has not replied to our letter sent on November 23,” said FPSA general secretary Rajeshwar Singh.
“Our members, who have been identified for redundancy, are running out of time.
Is FRCS deliberately delaying the meeting so that our members take home only one week’s pay for each completed year of service and an ex-gratia payment of $2000 which FRCS is offering?”
FPSA has told FRCS the redundancy package should be increased to three weeks pay for each completed year of service and an ex-gratia payment of six months salary.
“We firmly believe that redundancy should be the last resort for the future of the staff members and their families,” said Mr Singh in a letter to Ms Yee on November 23.
“Our members in many instances are the sole breadwinners and they have been placed in a situation where they wonder as to where the next meal will come from.
“Our members are currently going through a lot of anxiety and tremendous emotional stress.”
Mr Singh said if FRCS believed it was an employer with “good ethics and conscience” it would offer a much fairer and equitable redundancy package to its employees.
“This definitely will have a very significant impact not only on their livelihood but also on the welfare of their dependents as well. It is, therefore, imperative that they deserve to be accorded reasonable empathy for their long service and contributions. Most of them have mortgages and loan to pay.”
He said many staff members going home had contracts that expired in October, 2022.
“We are undoubtedly skeptical about the manner in which our members have been picked to be put on the compulsory redundancy list.
“This requires a very candid explanation and reasoning as to why valid contracts have been prematurely terminated.”
Mr Singh has sought a meeting with Ms Yee to discuss the quantum of severance package for the outgoing staff.
