Fiji - National Report. Course A Trade union role in facilitating transitions from informal to the formal economy" Indonesia, Bali.

Transcription

1 Fiji - National Report Course A Trade union role in facilitating transitions from informal to the formal economy" Indonesia, Bali September 2016 Compiled by : Moushmi Naicker FTUC Education Officer

2 Introduction Fiji, a country in the South Pacific, is an archipelago of more than 300 islands. It's famed for rugged landscapes, palm-lined beaches and coral reefs with clear lagoons. Its major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, contain most of the population. Viti Levu is home to the capital, Suva, a port city with British colonial architecture. Capital: Suva Population: 881,065 (2013) Currency: Fijian dollar National anthem: Gob Bless Fiji Official languages: English, Fijian, Fiji Hindi Fiji has the most developed labour market information system in the Pacific Islands region. However, untimeliness and infrequency have limited its usefulness for decision-making purposes. Young people in Fiji experience significantly higher unemployment rates than their adult counterparts and constitute a big proportion of the unemployed workforce. The prospects of young school leavers obtaining paid employment in the formal sector are limited. On the other hand, Fiji experiences severe labour shortages mainly caused by the ongoing emigration of skilled labour as well as low levels of workplace competence. The informal economy in Fiji is not particularly visible because most of it is home-based and consists of tailored products, handicrafts and the processing of agricultural produce.

3 Fiji Trades Union Congress The Fiji Trades Union Congress is the largest federation of trade unions in Fiji. It is the umbrella body for 26 affiliated unions. It was officially established in 1973 and is one of two union confederations in Fiji. It was originally known as the Fiji Industrial Workers Congress founded in 1951 in Ba by the late Pundit Ami Chandra. Approximately 33, 000 workers are members of the FTUC under their respective unions. The organisation fights for the rights of workers under their affiliates and for the rights of non-union workers to join unions. FTUC upholds all Conventions affiliated with the International Labour Organisation. It is also an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation. The FTUC also has a women and youth committee.

4 Policy Changes in Fiji on Employment Relations & Trade Union Rights There has been numerous amendments and changes or reviews to the employment relations The recent changes came about in the Employment Relations Promulgation in 2015 and These are refereed to as amendments to the labour law as the reform process. In the past, trade union rights in Fiji was silent and not accepted by the government. However after the intervention of ILO in Fiji and issues being addressed by the FTUC now the Employment Relations Promulgation provides the right to every worker in a workplace the right to either join or not to join a union. The current law also protects the workers from being discriminated due to involvement in union activities at the workplace Establishment and enforcement of the Arbitration Court has now started on 19 September 2016, which had been pending for almost one year after of the intervention of ILO in Fiji. The Court allows those who were under the ENI Decree to file for compensation. Negotiations and discussion continue at this stage between the Government. Workers Representative and Employers Representative to further improve the terms and conditions in the existing labour law, this meetings are held on monthly basis and is referred to as the Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB)

5 Workers Issues in Informal Economy Employment Conditions - Workers in the informal economy continue to face serious deficits in decent work, they are engaged in poor quality jobs, with low productivity and incomes, poor working conditions and occupational health and safety standards they are usually low paid, employment or income security are vulnerable to abuses of workers' right. Since they are normally outside the framework of laws and regulations and are not covered in official statistical enumeration, they are unrecognized, unregistered, unprotected and socially excluded. Right to organize - Unions and other workers organizations undoubtedly face many real challenges in organizing the informal workforce, irrespective of sector or country. Challenges are political/ conceptual and practical, external and internal, with many trade unions lacking the experience, openness, skills, resources or political will to seriously take on the challenge of organizing informal workers. Particular challenges result from the gender composition and segmentation of the informal workforce, where women form the bulk of those employed in sectors with the least income, security and status Access to social security - Majority of informal economy workers are deprived of social security coverage. Lack of social protection is a major contributor of social exclusion and poverty. Training and skill opportunities there is either total absence or very limited opportunities in the informal economy for the education and training on labour education. situation of women workers the current situation in comparison to the past has improved but there is still a lot of room to further improvements. Women workers are now to some extent paid with a decent pay and improve working conditions in terms of hourly pay

6 Existing Mechanism for Social Dialogue in Fiji There has been on going discussions with the government, Workers Representative and Employers representative on the current Employment Relations Promulgation and as a result of these discussion the labour law has been amended twice in 2015/2016. Negotiations still continue between the 3 parties on a monthly basis, these meeting are referred to as the Employment Relations Advisory Board(ERAB). These meeting are for the purpose of reviewing the current labour law ERP Social dialogue on such matters are very minimal and the government is very reluctant in terms of addressing issues of the informal economy and trade union activity in public.

7 Trade Union Initiatives Empowering The FTUC and its executives are working tirelessly to promote trade union and labour education in Fiji. The FTUC through funding assistance from the ILO, ILO ACTRAV and ILO PICS continues to conduct workshops and training program top promote union activity in Fiji and for its 26 affiliated Unions The FTUC also continues to sends its youth and women delegates to both local and international training for capacity building initiatives. The recent initiative taken by the FTUC with funding assistance from ILO ACTRAV expensively campaigning on the $4 National Minimum wage. 7th May 2016 launched a campaign to raise the National Minimum Wage to $4 an hour. While the FTUC is mindful that the $4 Minimum wage will still peg workers below the poverty line, we believe that $4 is a decent starting point to work towards a Minimum Wage that is pegged above the poverty line. made to work towards that goal. The Constitution of Fiji at Chapter 2, Section 33 clearly states The State must take reasonable measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realization of the right of every person to work and to a just minimum wage. The current minimum wage of $2.32 is grossly inadequate and condemns workers to extreme poverty. It is not a realistic starting point to progressively ensure a just Minimum Wage as the target is too far off and annual inflationary movements will further make it impossible to realize a minimum wage above the poverty line

8 Trade Union Policies and Action The FTUC s will continue to : 1. To establish, develop and maintain a powerful and effective national organisation, composed of free and democratic trade unions. 2. To assist in the formation of strong and effective trade unions for every worker in order the rights of every worker is protected. 3. To carry out workers education, research on current relevant issues including economic systems and social justice and provide assistance to the affiliates to promote better understanding of trade union functions. 4. To promote and protect the economic, social, political, educational interest, human and civil rights of the workers in Fiji. 5. To promote economic policies which lead to growth, full employment and a stable economy. 6. To collaborate with and assist workers organisations in other countries and to affiliate with appropriate International Organisations. 7. To promote the basic rights and principles referred to in Section 1.2(Preamble) of this Constitution (FTUC Constitution). 8. To call for legislations and to call for legislations and other practices including the promotion of collective bargaining as a means of raising the living standard of all workers. 9. To promote, organise and operate co-operative enterprises or commercial and industrial undertakings on a co-operative basis. 10. To ensure that the Government meets all its ILO obligations including the ratification of ILO Conventions particularly Core Conventions and Recommendations. 11. To promote the development and interests of women and youth including their greater participation in trade union activities.

9 Future Actions - Way forward Organising, Recruiting - Increase in Membership, create awareness and promote union education. To name Water Authority of Fiji, Fulton Hogan Highways, Higgins, Grid Security, Tolls Construction, Guard force, Danham Garment factory are now organised. Campaigning on the FTUC $4 Minimum Wage Campaign Success Planning for the FTUC in leadership roles which also includes the Youth and Women Committee Increase in Women participation and Membership in union activity

10 Thank You