UK, French, EU Trade, Minimum Wages, Workplace Discrimination, Development Multiplier Effect

N0019.  TRADE WITH EUROPE. Primary Industries Minister Joketani Cokanasiga met with British High Commissioner Mac McLachlan (right) and French Ambassador to Fiji Michael Montagnier yesterday to discuss bilateral trade opportunities.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss issues relating to bilateral trade opportunities between Fiji, United Kingdom, and France and with the European Union as a whole.

The issues discussed included capacity building and training opportunities within the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries and Forestry; technical expertise on  legislation' market excess, and government’s focus on export promotion, import substitution and poverty alleviation.”

Help was also sought on the EU ban on kava exports and the wish to extend the FairTrade Act to non-sugar agricultural commodities. -- Based on 2011, No:0039/MPI.

N0020. MINIMUM WAGES— AGAIN. Government backed down from implementing minimum wages last year due to employer pressure. The issue, however, is not dead and Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Filipe Bole, has confirmed that the ministry was actively engaged with the tripartite social partners at the Employment Relations Advisory Board to finalise new minimum wage formulae to be adopted by the Wages Councils.

After the three special sittings of the Wages Board last year the social partners unanimously agree to adopt the wage setting criteria in the ILO Convention No. 131, especially Article 3, as the basis to objectively review the minimum wages under the WRO. This included an appropriate national minimum wage formula compatible with the economic and social realities of Fiji. The Board also agreed to engage local professors of economics to recommend formulae for the sectoral minimum wages and national minimum wage to the Board before final formulae are recommended to the Minister for Labour for Cabinet’s consideration. The Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment under the Peoples Charter to move  towards a national minimum Wage in phases to help alleviate poverty. 2011, No:0042/LABOUR.

Comment: The phases seem more likely to help employers, and not those in poverty. Once again we see the difficulty government has in juggling conflicting interests. Small employers especially are finding things difficult in the present economic climate but even when things were easier some employers paid the least possible wages. And if the conditions are difficult for employers, those living on wages below the poverty line will be finding it even more difficult.

N0021. DISCRIMINATION STILL IN WORKPLACES. Labour Minister Filipe Bole said the Employment Relations Promulgations of 2007 prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace. But despite this discrimination  and unlawful segregation work cultures between races and gender continue. The Regulations state entitlements to fair labour practices and equal opportunities in employment for all workers in accordance with the 1998 International Labour Organisation Declaration on the Fundamentals Principles and Rights at Work that Fiji has ratified.

Under these parts, no employer or person shall discriminate against any worker or prospective worker on the grounds of ethnicity, colour, gender, religion, political opinion, national extraction, sexual orientation, age, social origin, marital status, pregnancy, family responsibilities, state of health including real or perceived HIV status, trade union membership or activity, or disability in respect of recruitment, training, promotion, terms and conditions of employment, termination of employment or other matters arising out of the employment relationship.

The Minister said one of the biggest challenges his ministry faces is the promotion of non-discriminatory labour practices in private and public workplaces. All employers need to adopt and practice Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) values and behaviours that are also in line with the Peoples Charter and Government’s firm commitment to introduce equal citizenry and non-race-based electoral and political systems.-- Based on 2011, No:0042/MOI.

N0022. DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHERN DIVISION. Over 1,350 projects have been funded by the Northern Development Programme over the past three years. NDP manager Waisale Tuidama said the projects cost $7.5million,about $3.5m funded by NDP and $3.9m by other banks.  Sectors funded  include 553 projects in dalo and yaqona farming, 217 fishing projects, 127 sugarcane projects, 39 rice farming projects and 105 livestock projects. The multiplier effect is estimated to be about $35m.

The Manager said, "The NDP was focused towards establishing fishing projects during the first two years. Now we are trying to develop livestock, dairy, rice and other commercial farming projects to utilise the natural resources and become self-sufficient.We hope to introduce cluster farming whereby a farmer is involved in numerous farming projects. This will also make it easier for the farmer to market the products."