No strikes, job actions, slowdowns or other financially or operationally harmful activities are just some of the now prohibited actions in Fiji for designated corporations under a new decree.
Fiji Village online reports the president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has gazetted the Essential National Industries Employment Decree aimed at ensuring the viability and sustainability of certain industries that are essential to the economy.
The decree now restricts a union's efforts to obtain registration as a representative of a Bargaining Unit, a union's efforts to influence the outcome of collective bargaining, and be involved in disputes over the interpretation or application of any collective agreements.
And overtime pay is only necessary if agreed to by the employer, and workers represenative must also now be employed byt the designated company.
Anyone failing to comply shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding 50,000 Fiji dollars or five years imprisonment or both, and in the case of a union to a fine not exceeding 100,000 Fiji dollars.
It further states that all existing collective agreements shall be null and void and no longer binding between the parties, and are valid for only another 60 days until a new collective agreement is negotiated.
