The Fiji Trades Union Congress has welcomed the government’s quick action in ensuring the union subscription deductions for civil servants who are members of trade unions will start later this month.
FTUC General Secretary Felix Anthony said this is a positive step and it also sets the right environment for the government, employers and unions to discuss issues through the Employment Relations Advisory Board mechanism.
Anthony agreed with the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum that they should all work together for the benefit of the people of the country.
He said some initial discussions have been held and further meetings are expected soon as the review process on employment relations continues.
The agreement signed in Geneva by the government, the employers and the unions said that the government shall restore the direct union fees deductions for civil servants who are members of public sector unions.
The parties agreed that the review of labour laws conducted under the Employment Relations Advisory Board mechanism should ensure compliance with ILO core conventions.
They also agreed that any further issues and recommendations for review should be negotiated through the same mechanism.
Any such issues and recommendations shall take into account the findings of the review to be presented by way of a bill to parliament no later than the August 2015 session.
It said the Employment Relations Advisory Board shall vet the bill before it is presented to cabinet and then to parliament.
The agreement further said that the bill once approved by parliament shall be implemented by the end of October this year.
