THE Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) is calling on government to reconsider its decision of not paying overtime for public sector workers.
National president Daniel Urai raised this concern during the 51st Biennial Delegates Conference in Nadi over the weekend.
“Workers go to work to earn money and not be compensated with day offs,” he said.
“I request the government to reconsider this.”
Mr Urai added that workers were also facing the effects of climate change.
“As Pacific Island countries surrounded by sea, we as citizens and also as workers suffer the full impact of weather changes – be it floods, droughts, sea level rises, extreme temperatures.
“To push the workers’ agenda in to climate change discussions is our mandate and challenge.
“Unions call for inclusion in pre-COP and government discussions on climate issues, just transition and green jobs.”
He pointed out that workers still need to put food on their table when an extreme weather event hits Fiji.
“During floods, workers do not have adequate protection to continue having access to their income, we as unions negotiate if some portion of their pay is continued, that they have access to transport if they have to report to work during these times for their safety and relief from working in extreme heat such as jobs in construction and or on farms.”
