Fiji's Labour and Industrial minister, Krishna Datt says he is confident all workers, including garment workers, will get the full 84 days maternity leave under a new Employment Relations Bill.
A parliamentary committee, which scrutinized the new Bill, caused outrage by recommending that the garment industry be exempt from paying its workers the full 84 days maternity leave.
It followed a submission from the garment industry that it was already struggling and could not afford to pay full maternity leave.
Nearly 90% of the remaining 9,000 workers in the garment industry are women.
Krishna Datt says the bill has been with the sector committee for a very long time, and no changes have been made to the bill that he is aware of.
"So as far was I am concerned, the provision, the original provision in the bill stands that there will be 84 days maternity leave to all workers."
However, Krishna Datt says the bill could see some changes once it is voted on next Wednesday.
