Civil servants rights to be members of unions are still intact and no member has been harassed.
This is according to the Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Jone Usamate after the Fiji Trades Union Congress complained to the International Labour Organisation for the alleged ill treatment of trade union leaders and members.
Usamate said there has been no harassment of union members as pointed out by FTUC as they are free to carry out their activities.
He said over the past two years, there have been extensive consultations on the review of the Employment Relations Promulgation.
According to Usamate last year there were increases to the sectoral minimum wages and this year government will be considering the establishment of a National Minimum Wage.
Fijivillage has been trying to get FTUC General Secretary, Felix Anthony for a number of days however his secretary said he does not carry a mobile phone nor has he returned any of our calls.
Anthony has spoken to Radio Australia and confirmed that FTUC has complained about the Fijian government to the International Labour Organization for the alleged ill treatment of trade union leaders.
Anthony wants the ILO to take action.
Under the Essential National Industries Decree, workers of companies listed as an essential industry should have their collective bargaining units.
The decree stops any person from outside the organization to represent the workers.
The previous practice saw unionists from outside these organizations representing the workers.
This has not gone down well with the unionists from outside these organizations as they can no longer do this.
The designated companies as Essential National Industries are ANZ, Westpac, BSP, Bank of Baroda, Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority, FINTEL, TFL, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Fiji Airways, FEA and Water Authority of Fiji.
Story by: Vijay Narayan/ Filipe Naikaso
