Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has appealed to those in the union movement to work with the government and not against it.
Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year award, Bainimarama says unions and unionists have no right to damage the jobs of workers and damage the Fijian economy.
He stressed that no one in Fiji wants conflicts in the industrial relations sector.
He says trade unions, employers, ordinary citizens and government are one and they should work together to prevent the International Labour Organisation’s commission of inquiry for Fiji.
Bainimarama says some union leaders are claiming that there are major restrictions on worker’s rights in Fiji.
He says workers should have the right to choose whether they want to join a trade union or not.
The International Labour Organization has deferred the appointment of a commission of inquiry for Fiji.
The Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations, Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation and Fiji Trades Union will have to submit a joint implementation report in time for the 326th Session of the Governing Body in March 2016.
A Commission of Inquiry would then be appointed if this does not happen.
The Fiji Trades Union Congress has maintained that it will not sign a joint report.
They want the option to have the in‑house collective bargaining units removed and the employees to be allowed to join trade unions.
They also want unionists to be allowed to take part in politics. They also want the workers to be given the right to strike in essential service industries.
Under the current laws, workers have the choice to join any trade union, form their own in‑house collective bargaining unit or not join a union if they wish.
The choice is entirely up to the employee.
The Political Parties Decree lists unionists as public officers and they can’t be officials of a political party.
The amended law also has an Employment Tribunal mechanism to resolve any disputes.
PM Exporter of the Year Award
Main Category
2015 Westpac Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Tropik Wood Industries Limited
General Award Category
Bank of Baroda Small Exporter of the Year Award ​ -​ Pleass Global Limited
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) Medium Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Ba Industries Limited
HFC Bank Large Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Rosie Holidays
Special Award Category
Technix Pacific Limited Emerging Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Douglas Pharmaceuticals (Fiji) Limited ​,​
Bank of South Pacific Import Substitution Award - ​ ​Pure Fiji Export Limited
Ministry of Youth & Sports Youth Entrepreneur Award ​ -​ Quality Tile Setters
Sector Based Award Category
Reserve Bank of Fiji Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Ram Sami & Sons (Fiji) Limited
Hangton Pacific Company Limited Fisheries Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Khanz Holdings Limited
Golden Manufacturers Limited Manufacturing Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Standard Concrete Industries
Tropik Wood Industries Limited Forestry Exporter of the Year Award - ​ ​Pride Mahogany (Fiji) ​, ANZ Bank Information Communications Technology (ICT) Services Award - ​ ​Foneology Solutions Limited
Recognition Awards - United Apparel (Fiji) Limited, FMF Foods Limited Ben's Trading Limited, Pacific Cement Limited, Pacific Fishing Company Limited, and ANZ Pacific Operations Limited.
