WTO General Council Review Of The Trade Policies Of Fiji

Brussels, 25 March 2009: A new report by the world’s largest trade union body, the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation), on core labour standards in Fiji has been issued today to coincide with the Trade Policy Review of that country at the WTO. The actual report (PDF).

Recommendations by the Report.

1. The government of Fiji needs to put its legislation into conformity with ILO Conventions on trade unions’ rights.
2. The government should establish appropriate protective measures to prevent undue interference in trade union activities from the Registrar.
3. Staff working in prison or correctional services should have the right to organise.
4. The requirement that more than 50 per cent of the paid-up members vote in favour of a strike is too restrictive and is a substantial obstacle to the exercise of the right to strike. The legislation should be amended accordingly.
5. The government should ensure that no compulsory arbitration at the request of one of the parties or of the Ministry of Labour can be imposed to end a strike, except under the strict conditions provided for by the Convention.
6. Legislation should be enacted to prohibit employers from hiring strike breakers.
7. The government of Fiji should actively promote collective bargaining including in EPZs.
8. The legislation against discrimination needs to be amended so as to provide for the ILO concept of “equal pay for work of equal value”.
9. The government need to increase efforts and budget to tackle gender discrimination in employment and remuneration so as to improve women’s position on the labour market.
10. The government needs to fight income disparity among ethnic groups by promoting decent work for all.
11. The government of Fiji must amend its legislation so as to make sure that children below 15 years of age are not admitted to employment.
12. The government of Fiji must strengthen the protection of children and young persons from hazardous work by determining, after consultation with the social partners, a comprehensive list of hazardous occupations and activities.
13. The government of Fiji should establish systematic monitoring on child labour with special attention to the informal sector and low-income communities.
14. The government of Fiji must investigate allegations of children being trafficked.
15. In line with the commitments accepted by Fiji at the Singapore, Geneva, and Doha WTO Ministerial Conference and its obligations as a member of the ILO, the Government of Fiji should provide regular reports to the WTO and the ILO on its legislative changes and implementation of all the core labour standards.
16. The WTO should draw to the attention of the authorities of Fiji the commitments they undertook to observe core labour standards at the Singapore and Doha Ministerial Conferences. The WTO should request the ILO to intensify its work with the Government of Fji in these areas and provide a report to the WTO General Council on the occasion of the next trade policy review.
    
    
    
    
    read more digg story