THE country’s two biggest workers representative organisations — Fiji Trades Union Congress and Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions — are working towards holding talks on issues of common interest.
One of the major issues facing both unions are decrees affecting the right to representation and right to arbitration for workers across the country.
FTUC general secretary Felix Anthony said there had been some development in discussions between the unions regarding decrees that affected workers’ rights.
“We are making some progress in uniting the two institutions and we have taken the fight to restore workers’ rights to the international arena,” he said.
“We are not sitting idly by because there is too much at stake for the ordinary workers in this country.
“The FTUC questions why legislation like the Essential National Industries Decree is still in place.
“We are a democracy now and workers should be able to be represented by any organisation of their choice and also be able to seek legal redress for employment issues.”
FICTU acting general secretary Kamlesh Kumar said the future of workers rights — something that had taken decades of negotiations to attain — was at stake.
“We are both strong organisations but if we combine our efforts then obviously we will become stronger,” he said.
