Comment by Siteri Maravou on December 9, 2011 at 9:11am

Hats off to the Australian Trade Union for deciding to send a representative to come and investigate Fiji's abuse of workers rights.
Ged Kearney,ATUC's President will be in Fiji next week and would speciafically meet with Khaiyum and Bainimarama.
The rights of Fiji workforce has been undermined by the Bainimarama Goverment.

An indication of the Illegal Regimes dictaorship position was when it arrested prominent unionists Felix Anthony and Daniel Urai.

Comment by Siteri Maravou on December 9, 2011 at 10:06am

NEWS

ILO Condemns Fiji Junta over Labour Rights

18 November 2011: The UN’s International Labour Organisation has issued a strong condemnation of Fiji’s military Junta over severe violations of labour rights. The ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association described the situation there as “extremely serious” and requiring urgent attention.

The ruling follows the arrests of Daniel Urai, President of the national trade union centre FTUC on October 29 and Felix Anthony, the organisation’s General Secretary, on 5 November. Worker representatives have also been subjected to a campaign of harassment, intimidation and physical beatings.

“Fiji’s military rulers are turning the country into an absolute dictatorship, and seem determined to destroy the trade unions as part of their strategy to crush any dissent and eliminate the legitimate voice of civil society,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. “The rulers must turn back from this destructive path, and allow Fiji to return to democracy.”

The arrests of Urai and Anthony and the travel bans placed on them, have been linked to union opposition to a recent “essential services decree” which eliminates the right to trade union representation for a large part of Fiji’s workforce. The decree, written for the military regime by a US law firm, takes away collective bargaining rights for many workers, imposes heavy restrictions on those elected to union leadership positions and removes the right to strike and minimum wages for all the sectors it covers.

“The ITUC and its international trade union partners will be ramping up action against the Fijijunta’s plan to destroy workers’ rights, and is calling on all governments to put maximum pressure on the military rulers,” said Burrow.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions and national employer group ACCI have jointly condemned the junta’s actions, and trade union representatives at this week’s ILO Governing Body meeting have issued their own strong condemnation through the ILO’s Workers’ Group

Comment by Siteri Maravou on December 22, 2011 at 6:42am

As expected of an Illegal Regime like Bainimarama's....the ATUC were deported back when they arrived at Nadi Airport. They were refused to seek consular assistance...read this...

Australian unions remain steadfast in pursuit of human and labour rights in Fiji 14 December, 2011 | Media ReleaseAustralian unions will continue to steadfastly pursue human and labour rights in Fiji, despite the military regime’s refusal to allow entry to an Australian and New Zealand union fact-finding mission. ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Fiji Government’s actions flew in the face of its claims it had nothing to hide, and only served to illustrate it had no interest in engaging with the international community about human and labour rights. The delegation, led by ACTU President Ged Kearney and her New Zealand counterpart Helen Kelly, was denied permission to enter Fiji at Nadi Airport yesterday afternoon, despite an open invitation from the Fijian Government. “We are disappointed the Fiji Government has defied international concerns about the removal of workers’ labour rights and violence toward union leaders.  “But their actions only make us more determined to safeguard the human and labour rights of Fijian workers and their communities. “If Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has nothing to hide, then why would he refuse us entry? Even more concerning was the refusal to allow the delegation consular support and the confiscation of our mobile phones. “This is hardly the type of action we would expect from and open and accountable democracy. “Australian unions have been concerned for some time about the treatment of Fijian workers and allege violence towards union leaders.” The delegation had planned a three-day mission to investigate the worsening human and labour rights record in Fiji. It had planned to meet with Fijian workers and unions, civil society and church organisations, and business executives, and had hoped to meet with the Fiji Government. “It is unimaginable that the Fiji Government continues to defy basic human rights in the face of growing international outrage,” Ms Kearney said.  “Just last week, the International Labour Organisation intervened to safeguard human and labour rights in Fiji, passing an unprecedented resolution condemning the actions of the Fijian Government to persecute union leaders and restrict fundamental labour rights. “The resolution was backed by union, Government and employer representatives, including the ACTU and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We can assure Mr Bainimarama that we will not be intimidated by his tactics and we will not back down in our mission to defend the rights of Fijians.”

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