Addressing
the ILO (International Labour Organization) conference in Geneva last week, Labour Minister Jone Usamate made
references to a number of topical issues. Here are some of them. I have added the sub-heading.
Blog author (L), Minister Jone Usamate (R) |
WORKER RIGHTS
On worker and employer rights, he said
Government was committed “to protecting and promoting the rights of
all Fijian workers and employers, including our migrant workers. This is
evident from the significant economic, constitutional and labour reforms which
the Government has undertaken over the last 5 years.”
"The Fijian Government has taken significant steps to review and modernize
the existing labour laws, practices and policies in Fiji. The Government
has activated a tripartite social dialogue process, under the Employment
Relations Advisory Board, which has undertaken a total of 38 one-day tripartite
meetings since July 2012 and just concluded the review of our Employment
Relations law at the end of last year. This revised law, which also covers migrant
workers, and which addressed issues raised by the Committee of Experts, is
expected to be gazetted before the end of the year."
BILL OF
RIGHTS. “Our new Constitution … has one of the strongest
Bill of Rights in the world. It
reflects the basic rights of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the International Covenant on Social and
Economic Rights, which protects ordinary workers.
"….guarantees universally accepted principles and values of
equality and justice to all Fijians. These include - common and equal
citizenry, removal of all forms of discrimination, a secular State, eradication
of systemic corruption, protection and promotion of human rights, an
independent judiciary, and a voting system based on one person, one vote, one
value, which totally removes ethnic voting."
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS
"… our Constitution also contains an extensive chapter on
fundamental human rights, which guarantees the promotion and protection of
rights and freedoms of all Fijians including workers and their families
[including] provisions guaranteeing
freedom from slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking; freedom
from cruel and degrading treatment; right to executive and administrative
justice; freedom of expression, publication and media; freedom of assembly;
freedom of association; the right to fair employment practices; the right to
humane and proper working conditions; right of all workers to economic
participation; as well as the right of all Fijians and migrant workers to a
just minimum wage."
SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS
"For the first time, all
Fijians have guaranteed socio-economic rights in the Constitution.
These include the right to adequate food and water, right to housing and
sanitation, right to health, and the right to social security schemes. Also,
the rights of disabled persons and the rights of children are protected,
including the right to free primary, secondary and further education. Also for the first time, discrimination on
the grounds of pregnancy and marital status, amongst many other grounds, is
prohibited."
REFORMS, JOBS AND WAGES
"The Fijian Government, in working towards maintaining its
obligations as a member state of ILO, has introduced significant reforms to
preserve and create jobs, to sustain industries essential to the economy, and
to improve the living standards of all Fijians.
"For the first time in decades, Government has reduced the income
and corporate taxes payable by over 99% of
all Fijians, including thousands of workers as well as employer groups and
companies.
"For the first time, all Government wage-earners last year received
a 10% increase in their wages. All civil servants in the lower salary bracket, received
sizeable increases in their salaries. From the beginning of 2013, senior
citizens and retired workers over the age of 70 who do not have access to
pensions, are being provided with State-funded pension benefits.
"In
consultation with our tripartite partners, we are now
reviewing the workers compensation regime, with a view to implementing a
fair and modern no-fault scheme, to cover all workers, including migrant
workers, for injuries and deaths arising at work. This complements the significant Pension
Reform undertaken by the Fiji National Provident Fund.
"In response
to the ILO Global Jobs Pact Resolution, the Fijian Government has
established a National Employment Centre in 2009 This is a one-stop public employment service
for all Fijians, and we have successfully implemented our first Fiji
Volunteer Service which has sent many volunteers to Pacific countries on
request. We are currently working with the
ILO and ADB to formulate our first National Employment Policy to ensure
job rich growth across all sectors. We
aim to effectively address the issues raised in the World of Work Report
2014, as reflected in the resolution of the ILC Committee on
Employment.
"We [have
also] implemented our first National Minimum Wage to protect marginalized
workers in the formal and informal economies.
This will complement our existing 10 sectoral minimum wages."
5 comments:
Crosbie, won't you be publishing about the HRH (her royal highness) The one and only Queen/madam of Fiji - the Bainimarama legal adviser Naz Shameem? Since we are still on Geneva convention
Is this Shameem the author of the illegal treasonous document the 'doctrine of necessity'? She certainly has a lot to answer for when the rule of law is returned to Fiji? Someone like Shameem representing the UN and Fiji military thugs being used by the UN as 'peacekeepers' sums up why the UN has become a useless and redundant orgsanisation that achieves SFA.
Now Shameem will be selling Tappoos products in the Switerland market. She is already talking about Pure Fiji. No wonder her kameez comes from Tappoos.
What a great photo of two fools benefitting from the illegal human rights abusing coup? All they can do is hide behind thugs with guns.
What a great photo of 2 great men who have served Fiji selflessly and honorably!!!
May Fiji continue to benefit from their contributions!
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