The Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF) says while Fiji must uphold international labour commitments, any amendments to the Employment Relations Act must reflect the country’s socio-economic realities.
FCEF Chief Executive Officer Edward Bernard said it was important to balance expectations arising from ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions with Fiji’s status as a small island developing state.
“The ILO Conventions provide for the adoption of minimum labour standards, and we must ensure we are not over-reaching by adopting maximum and unsustainable standards for Fiji,” Bernard said.
He criticised the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) for what he described as over-reliance on the “aligning to ILO Conventions card” to push for stricter penalties and conditions that may not be viable for employers.
Bernard, who previously worked with the ILO and the Ministry of Employment for more than 17 years, said Fiji had already taken significant steps to align with international standards.
He noted that in 2023, Parliament passed the Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill to bring local laws in line with ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association, while the Government also reconstituted the Employment Relations Advisory Board in compliance with Convention 144 on Tripartite Consultation.
“These are very real examples where FCEF has supported the Government and FTUC to ensure compliance with ILO ratified conventions. If there are provisions in the current Act that still fall short of the minimum standards, then we have yet to see any gap analysis.”
He added that Fiji’s private sector continues to face major challenges including high business costs, outward migration of skilled workers, and low productivity.
Bernard said the Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill in its current form does not adequately address these issues and urged caution in determining the extent to which Fiji can afford to comply with ILO conventions.
“We must be vigilant about how far we go in implementing these conventions to ensure sustainability for both workers and employers,” he said.
