General strike threat in Fiji

The Fiji Trade Union Congress has threatened a national strike if the government fails to abolish controversial labour laws.

The Fiji Daily Post reported on April 15 that FTUC general secretary James Raman was reacting to remarks made in parliament by the minister of finance, Colonel Paul Manueli, that the labour reforms were “here to stay”.

Under the amendments, which came into effect in November 1991, trade unions which organise a strike without first holding a properly conducted strike ballot are liable for prosecution for loss of business and other damages caused by the strike.

Raman said the FTUC had already passed a resolution in 1991 to take individual industrial action if the government failed to remove the laws. He warned that strike action would be taken “to restore the legitimate rights of the workers of Fiji”.

Raman said the International Labour Organisation Committee on Freedom of Association had condemned several of the provisions of the labour laws since “they violated fundamental human and trade union rights”.

He also called on the government to honour an undertaking given to the United States government last year by the minister for labour and industrial relations to review the labour laws.

A review was also promised by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in return for Fiji Labour Party support in his bid for the prime ministership after last year's general elections.
[Pacnews via Pegasus.]

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