SODELPA vows to review travel bans if elected

The Fiji Times
Wednesday, June 14, 2017

THE Social Democratic Liberal Party has given its assurance that it will review all politically-motivated travel bans if they are elected into Government.

SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka said these would include travel bans on citizens and non-citizens. Mr Rabuka said former citizens such as Professor Brij Lal and his wife Dr Padma Narsey Lal, newspaper executives Russell Hunter, Evan Hannah, former president of the Court of Appeal Justice Gordon Ward, and others had been labelled as "prohibited immigrants" on the grounds of being threats to national security.

But he said SODELPA would review all travel bans and lift them if irrelevant consideration or reasoning was applied to justify the bans.

He was speaking as SODELPA stalwart Usaia Pita Waqatairewa struggled to remove a ban on him enforced by the Immigration Department.

"These bans have no place in a free and democratic Fiji and SODELPA will remove them," Mr Rabuka said.

Mr Rabuka said Mr Waqatairewa faced difficulties when entering and leaving the country and was handed a letter saying he had an "Adverse record or Travel Restrictions".

What did Justice Gordon Ward tell LAWASIA

By VICTOR LAL
The Fiji Sun
June 2007

The Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has called on the President of the Fiji Court of Appeal, Justice Gordon Ward, to resign. In a statement Mr Khaiyum claimed that Justice Ward supported Suva lawyer Graham Leung of Howards, and wrote a letter to LAWASIA questioning as to why its president Mah Weng Kwai, had taken the post of commissioner on at the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.

According to Mr Khaiyum, on May 30, Justice Ward wrote that the events of December 5 was a ‘coup”, that our “President has no power to make laws” and consequently made “judgments about FICAC”. Mr Khaiyum said Justice Ward wrote to LAWASIA on the letterhead of the Court of Appeal questioning as to why Mah had taken the position. Mr Khaiyum did not elaborate on the contents of the letter.

What did Justice Ward write to LAWASIA? A signed copy of Justice Ward’s letter obtained by me confirms Mr Khaiyum’s contention. The letter, written on the Fiji Court of Appeal letterhead, was written on 30 May 2007, and addressed to the Secretary General, LAWASIA, GPO Box 980, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The letter was sent by facsimile (No: 0061 7 3222 5850) and addressed to one Ms Neville. Justice Ward wrote in his capacity as President of the Fiji Court of Appeal, and signed it. He also sent a copy to Mr Mah.

He began by claiming that, “The appointment of the President of Lawasia as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Corruption established by the interim government leaves me with no alternative but to resign my membership of Lawasia”. Justice Ward said he first became a member of LAWASIA some years ago. He supported its consistent promotion of human rights and the rule of law. Justice Ward said he admired the principled stand it was willing to take when the judiciary or legal profession were under attack anywhere in the region. Following the coup in Fiji last December, the same stance was adopted.

Justice Ward asserted: “We were encouraged here to read that Lawasia had strongly condemned the actions of the military in seizing executive power, effectively at gunpoint. It correctly described it as a gross assault on the rule of law, unacceptable in a democratic country. That view was also taken by similar bodies in Fiji and around the world. Lawasia was later reported as having similarly condemned the forced removal of the Chief Justice by military officers. We were further heartened when Lawasia announced it was sending a fact finding mission to Fiji to be led by Mah Weng Kwai.”

But Justice Gordon expresses disappointment with LAWASIA for publishing a large photograph of Commodore Frank Bainimarama and also for effusively praising the current Interim Attorney-General Khaiyum. He informed LAWASIA: “Unfortunately, the initial report after the visit, published in the April edition of Lawasia Update, was insensitive enough to start with a large photograph of the members of the mission with Bainimarama, the man who had headed the removal of the elected Government by the military and who, once he was 'appointed' interim prime minister, retained command of the military, thus ensuring an effective military government, and directed the forced removal of the Chief Justice The report then gives effusive thanks to the interim attorney general for his generosity with his time and for the briefing by him on the controversial commission against corruption which the report describes as a "key focus" of the interim government and a "vital process in restoring good governance in Fiji.”.

He informed LAWASIA that he knew from reported comments by Mr Mah himself that his (Mr Mah’s) appointment was first suggested by Mr Khaiyum during that visit when Mr Mah was heading an ostensibly independent fact finding mission. But according to Justice Ward, “Such an approach was inappropriate and suggests that Mr Mah had already taken a view that there was legitimacy in the interim military government despite the repeated claim in the subsequent final report that it deliberately avoided making any such decision”.

Justice Ward also pointed out that Mr Mah is no doubt aware that, under the Fiji Constitution, lawmaking power is vested in Parliament. The President has no power to make laws but Mr Mah’s appointment had been made under such a claimed power.

Justice Ward than proceeds to comment on Captain Esala Teleni, suspended Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki, and the removal of high ranking civil servants etc: “No doubt he (Mr Mah) was advised that his deputy commissioner in the independent commission is the second in command of the military. Far from “restoring” good governance in Fiji, the interim government has repeatedly used vague and unspecified allegations of corruption as its reason to arbitrarily remove high-ranking civil servants and prominent leaders – frequently in disregard of lawful procedures. The removal of the Chief Justice by the military officers and the absence of any specific charges more than four months later is one of many examples.”

He said he had no doubt that Mr Mah was a highly regarded lawyer in the Asia Pacific region. Justice Ward added that he was sure Mr Mah had the necessary qualifications for the position he had accepted in Fiji. He intended no criticism of Mr Mah personally but the appointment, he claimed, had been well publicized in the newspapers and on radio and television. Justice Ward added: “Whilst reference has been made to his reputation and undoubted experiences, the principal emphasis has been his presidency of LawAsia as suggesting an indication of acceptance in the international community of the validity of the military’s claimed reason for removing Fiji’s elected government.”

Justice Ward than announced that he was resigning from LAWASIA: “This has made it impossible to regard his appointment as a personal matter. I consider his acceptance of it is totally inconsistent with his role as the public face of LawAsia. I regret to say it as having compromised LawAsia’s hitherto deserved reputation to such an extent that I fear my continued membership may be seen as an acquiescence in such a compromise.”

He said he was attending the Hong Kong conference in his capacity as Chief Justice of Tuvalu. “I understand that attendance at the Chief Justice’' conference does not depend on membership of the association. However, I intend still to attend some parts of the principal conference despite my resignation. I shall take no part in Lawasia after that”.

Justice Gordon Ward’s letter once again raises the issue of revolution and the position of the judiciary. While Commodore Bainimarama invoked the Doctrine of Necessity, the judges could defend themselves on the necessity ground of jurisdiction. There are occasions in extreme circumstances such as revolution where it is necessary in the interest of public order for a court, sitting to determine the status of a revolutionary government to override claims that it lacks jurisdiction.

This was the approach taken by MacDonald JA and Fieldhouse AJA in the Southern Rhodesian cases of Madzimbamuto in the Appellate Division and Beadle CJ in Ndhlovu. MacDonald said: “The municipal courts, unlike a foreign government, cannot wait upon events. The function of courts of law within a territory is to maintain law and order and to avoid by every possible means anarchy, chaos, or uncertainty and this is an urgent task.”

Fieldsend AJA found that the court could not sit to determine whether the constitution by which it was created had disappeared, and that there could be no “halfway house” between deriving jurisdiction from the 1961 and 1965 Rhodesian Constitutions. Nevertheless, he came to the conclusion that on the grounds of necessity, the court should give effect to certain of the acts of the Ian Smith Government which had declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Beadle CJ in Ndhlovu thought that something other than legality required the courts to continue to sit, and that was on “protecting the fabric of society”.

He did not think that to carry on was to be “disloyal” to the 1961 Constitution and thought rather that the judges had been “overtaken by events”. He said the judges should ask the following question: “Is it better to remain and carry on with the peaceful task of protecting the fabric of society and maintaining law and order, or is it better to adhere to the old 1961 Constitution and go along with it.”

He was referring to the necessity ground of jurisdiction. In revolutionary situations the courts must carry on, to “protect the fabric of society”, instead of quietly attempting to bring down the revolutionary government.

It seems that Justice Ward has jumped the legal gun even before the test cases have come before the High Court and the Fiji Court of Appeal. The words of the great English judge Lord Denning seems to have deserted him:

“For all judges on extra judicial issues, silence is the best option.”

It would be interesting to see if Justice Gordon Ward resigns as president of the Fiji Court of Appeal.

It will be rank hypocrisy if he did not. He is after all presiding over the Fiji Court of Appeal and not over LAWASIA in Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s post-coup Fiji.

Teen chases dream
The Fiji Times
Monday, June 12, 2017

CHALLENGES, trials and tribulations can either make or break us. For it is in these times of struggles and pain, that great men and women are born.

The late American civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr, once said "human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals".

When Avikash Reuben left his home in Field 4 Lautoka in January 2016, he had only $80 in his pocket.
It was his savings coupled with assistance from his friends.

He was only 18 years old then, and this trip away from home was the trip of a lifetime. He was searching for a better life for him and his family.

His father, who was the sole breadwinner in the family, passed away a year earlier and it was a really tough time for the family. His mother did not work and was left to fend for her three children.

"When I was in Year 12, it was a really hard time because we were facing financial problems," said the 19-year-old.

Seeing their struggle as his mother tried to satisfy their daily needs, Avikash sought employment at a canteen while attending Natabua High School.

But he did not want to be working in a canteen all his life. He had a dream job and that was to be an accountant and run his own firm.

After successfully completing his Year 12 examination, he wanted to enter boarding school because through this, he said, there would be enough food for his mother, brother and sister.

Attending boarding school meant his mother would be able to save enough money to meet their family needs.
So he started looking for a boarding school and found Nasinu Secondary School.

His mother was informed of his decision so in an emotional farewell he left his home for the first time in his life with only $80 in his pocket — $20 was for his fare to Suva and $60 was for his boarding fee.

"I believe in him and I have a lot of faith in him. I knew it was not a mistake to let him go because I know he is a very determined boy," was all his mother Jyotika Naidu could say.

Jone Tuiono, who was the Nasinu Secondary School's Parents, Teachers and Friends Association president, stepped into the picture to lend a helping hand.

"When I saw him, I asked him how much do you have and he said he only had $60 left. Then I asked him, 'can you take life at boarding school?' and he said, 'yes'.

"Then I asked him what he wants to become in life and he said he wanted to be an accountant, run his own company and return to look after his mother.

"So I said to myself, 'here is potential, here is a kid who has big dreams and he deserves our help'.
"So I asked the principal to grant him a space in the boarding facility."

Mr Tuiono, who is also a board member for the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children in Fiji (FENC Fiji), saw that the determined teenager had travelled to Suva with a bag of clothes and no education materials.
"So through FENC Fiji, we bought and supplied his uniform, sandals, books and everything to meet his education needs," Mr Tuiono said.

Entering a new environment all together, and being the lone Fijian of Indian descent in the hostel was always going to be a challenge.

But soon, days turned to weeks, months and before he knew it, he had gotten through one term.
Before long, a whole education year was done and dusted.

"People thought I would run away, that I won't be able to eat the food and do the work like weeding but I stayed in the hostel and quickly made friends with the students. I stayed there until the end of the year," he said.

Through the support of the Nasinu Secondary School's fraternity, FENC Fiji and sheer hard work and determination, Avikash passed with flying colours topping the school's Year 13 external examinations.

During the Christmas holiday last year, Avikash worked as an office boy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before giving up the job to pursue his studies at the University of the South Pacific.

Today, Avikash is one of 630 recipients of Government's National Toppers Scholarship program.

He is studying for a bachelors degree double major in accounting and financial management, with the dream of opening up a firm for himself.

"I don't doubt him. I know he will achieve his goal because I see his determination and even at home he has been a blessing in disguise to my five sons as he is helping them with their education and teaching them," said Mr Tuiono, who has since taken in the 19-year-old while he pursues his studies at USP.

"Mr Tuiono is like my father. He is my guardian and he is my angel," Avikash said with a hint of gratitude.

Avikash left his home in search of a better life. And while he is yet to achieve that, his achievements so far, dedication and perseverance will help him fight tooth and nail to achieve his goal.

His perseverance reminds me of a poem by British poet Edgar Guest's "Don't Quit".

When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As everyone of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell just how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

As a concerned citizen, I wish to express my strong opposition to the continuing trend of politically rewarding coup-makers and accomplices.

The latest example is the election today [3 June] of Pio Tikoduadua as the president of the National Federation Party. I know Pio personally and I have many friends in the NFP, so it gives me no pleasure saying this, but I feel it must be said.

Mr Tikoduadua is a former close military government colleague of 2006 coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama and went on to become his aider and abettor as a Cabinet member in the Fiji First government.

So we now have three political party leaders who have yet to be held to account for their capital crimes against the people. They continue to hide behind the immunity provisions of Chapter 10 of the current constitution.

Yet the other coup leader George Speight, who committed the same crime as the three evaders of justice, is still serving a life sentence.

Where is the equality, fairness and justice in all this?

The excuse by the NFP that Mr Tikoduadua was overseas when Bainimarama committed his act of treason is not credible. Mr Tikoduadua came back and decided to fully participate in what Bainimarama had done. Other military officers had resigned in protest. Mr Tikoduadua could have done the honorable thing and resigned as well. But he did not.

Instead he chose to be part of the Bainimarama takeover and was well rewarded for that.

As long as we the people are stupid enough to keep rewarding these wrongdoers, we will always be cursed with coups. Our dysfunctional behavior gives future potential coup instigators a form of incentive to follow the same course which has done so much damage to our country.

They know they can commit a capital crime, get immunity for it, then seek to reach the highest offices in the land, while enriching themselves along the way.

FIVE Iranian planes filled with food have landed at Doha airport as the blockade against Qatar by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries starts to bite.

Iran said the planes were filled with vegetables and that it plans to send 100 tons of fresh fruit and legumes every day to the import-dependent nation, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

"So far five planes carrying ... vegetables have been sent to Qatar, each carrying around 90 tonnes of cargo, while another plane will be sent today," Iran Air spokesman Shahrokh Noushabadi told the Agence France-Presse news agency Sunday.

"We will continue deliveries as long as there is demand."

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut links with Qatar last Monday, accusing Doha of supporting and financing terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere -- a charge Qatar denies.

Separately, Iran is preparing to send a flotilla of warships first to Oman and then later to international waters north of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, Tasnim reported.

The agency said the fleet was dispatched as part of Iran's commitments to fight international piracy, and did not mention tensions with Arab countries involved in the spat with Qatar.

As well as cutting air, sea and land links with Doha, three of the countries involved -- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE -- ordered Qatari citizens to leave within 14 days.

On Sunday, Qatar said that the 11,000 citizens of those countries that have cut ties will be allowed to stay in the country.

"The state of Qatar has not taken any steps regarding the inhabitants on its territories, who are the citizens of brotherly and friendly countries which have cut diplomatic relations or downgraded diplomatic representation with the state of Qatar in the wake of biased and hostile campaigns against the state of Qatar," the government said in a statement.

"The citizens of these states have absolute freedom to stay in the territories of the state of Qatar in adherence with the laws and applicable regulations in the country in the context of working treaties established with them and with the agreement of their countries and based on entry visas that are available to them" it continued. Source: CNN

The head of the Burebasaga confederacy Ro Teimumu Kepa has recommended changes to the proposed village by-laws.

She made this submission during a Catholic Church of Fiji organized seminar on Reading The Sign Of The Times in Fiji - Catholic Social Teaching And Socio-Political Issues.

Ro Teimumu said that her presentation is based on the submissions heard from the nine tikina in Rewa who agreed, in principle, that the draft village by-laws, with a few proposed amendments, would be better in creating a more conducive environment for the people it is designed for.

She says what was stressed is that the laws to be enacted are to be for the good of the people as a whole rather than for any individual person.

Ro Teimumu says although people may be created in God’s own image and likeness, they, through democracy were given too much freedom.

She spoke about people participating in village commitments.

Ro Teimumu says presently there is no enforcement and an amendment was proposed by several tikina that a penalty fee of $200 to be included. She says some people’s religious beliefs prevented them from undertaking cultural activities, yet when it concerned them, they were beneficiaries of people’s kindness and generosity.

Speaking on the section concerning stray animals destroying crops in the village, Ro Teimumu said that conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means as the draft village by-law proposes that the crop owner after killing the animal is to inform the owner of the slain animal to remove it and if after 6 hours the animal has not been removed, the crop owner may utilize the animal meat.

Ro Teimumu says submissions on this section from several tikina were that the animal owner apologize to the farmer and replace or replant the destroyed crops, or the village organizes an impounded area for stray animals.

She says most of the villages disagreed with the section of the draft village by-law that states that people intending to marry should be a home owner.

Ro Teimumu says the villages felt this would be a hindrance to young people wishing to marry which will impact on the village population, although they agreed young men should have a plantation for food security.
She also spoke about rights and responsibilities.

Ro Teimumu says the social teaching is that rights correspond to the duties and responsibilities to one another, to our families and to the larger society.

She says one the concerns expressed in the presentation is the motion that individual human rights overrides group or communal rights especially when they hear people from Suva expressing forcefully through the media the power and authority of human rights.

Ro Teimumu says often quoted is that Fiji is a democracy and everyone has their rights meaning no one can tell a person how to dress or act in a village setting.

She also said that Turaga Ni Koros should be well paid as they would be given added responsibilities and also raised the question whether they will be contracted like civil servants.

Ro Teimumu says the Rewans also suggest that the religious committee in the village monitor the activities of all church denominations in the village and for them to actively participate in vanua activities.

She says it was also suggested that villagers should cooperate and collaborate in addressing issues of truancy, absenteeism and being used in child labour economic activities.

Ro Teimumu says villagers should also look after the environment.

She says she is embarrassed to say that probably 90 percent of the household refuse is discarded through plastic bags into the Rewa River, travels down river, through the qoliqoli areas and ends up on the reef.

Other people present in the Catholic seminar included Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Niko Nawaikula, Pio Tikoduadua, Fred Caine, some SODELPA and NFP youth, Peter Waqavonovono and Fiji Council of Churches. Source: Fijivillage News, 9 June 2017

Archbishop Chong says Catholic Church does not agree with certain clauses in proposed village by-laws

Fijivillage News,  Thursday 08/06/2017

The Head of the Catholic Church of Fiji says they do not agree with two clauses in the proposed village by-laws.

This has been highlighted by Archbishop Peter Loy Chong when asked by Fijivillage on what is the Catholic Church’s stand on village by-laws during the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva Justice and Development Commission Seminar in Suva.

The proposed village by-law states that a Committee shall be established, with representatives from the various religious denominations within the village to ensure that members of their denomination comply with the decisions of the Village Council and Bose Vanua and that traditional and cultural obligations are respected and adhered to.

Archbishop Chong says they do not agree with this.

The second proposed village by-law that the Catholic Church opposes is the one that relates to establishing a church within the village.

In this case, a request shall be submitted to the Turaga-ni-Koro to be discussed in the Bose Vanua and the principles and teachings of the faith must be aligned to the iTaukei and uphold the criminal decree.

When asked by Fijivillage on whether the Catholic Church went to all the members of their congregation to get their thoughts on the proposed village by-laws before taking the stand, Archbishop Chong said they will be forming a team that will go to the members of the church to work on the village by-law submissions that the Catholic Church will be making.

http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/Archbishop-Chong-says-Catholic-Church-does-not-agree-with-certain-clauses-in-proposed-village-by-laws-rk295s/

Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry on the national minimum wage:

With Government and the Unions #deadlocked over the issue of a fair national minimum wage, Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry recommends that $3.50 per hour be adopted as an interim NMW to give immediate relief to workers while tripartite negotiations continue on a fixed rate indexed to inflation.

Here is the full paper by the FLP Leader:

#In a country where the average level of poverty is as high as 40%, with poverty in the informal sector estimated at an alarming high of 53%, the issue of what is a fair wage takes on enormous significance.

It is widely accepted that low wages is the root cause of poverty in Fiji among the working class families. It is estimated that some 60% of those in full time employment are earning wages below the Basic Needs Poverty Line (BNPL) currently set at $203 a week. These employees are all in the private sector.

Government’s own survey shows that those in the lower wage group are spending less than $40 a week on food for their families. This is absolutely shocking. What can a family of five buy for $40 a week except the bare essentials?

Is it little wonder that the Tebutt-Times poll shows cost of living as the number one issue of concern for our citizens?

A living wage pegged to the cost of living and one that meets the basic needs of our workers, must be a priority for any caring government.

Trade unions are currently locked in a dispute with the government and the employers on what is a living wage. The unions are asking for $4 an hour based on a BNPL of $186 which was set in 2014. The inflation adjusted BNPL is $203 which would mean $5.00 an hour.

Late last year, Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced that government was undertaking a review. It then appointed a consultant to prepare a report with recommendations for a revised minimum wage rate.

The unions were not consulted or invited to participate, and the entire review process was handled outside the Employment Relations Advisory Board.

The consultant Professor Partha Gangopadhyay from the University of the South Pacific recommended that the national minimum wage be revised from $2.32 to $2.68 per hour or $117.92 per week.

His view seems to be that workers in this category were helped by government handouts (social wages he calls it) and should be able to manage their household expenditure within the limit set.

Naturally, the unions rejected the report. A meeting of the Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) was held on 1st June to discuss the recommendations. It is believed the Minister is now preparing a report on the matter for presentation to Cabinet.

This issue about government’s so-called “social wage” offsetting the need for a living wage for our workers, is totally unacceptable and has no relevance to the national minimum wage.

It is a reference to government handouts such as subsidised school bus fares, medicine, water and electricity etc.

We all know that these freebies are not working well. In fact, most wage earners are told that they do not qualify for these handouts. It is, therefore, not quite correct to suggest that it has brought down working poverty from 35% to 11%, as Employment Minister Jone Usumate stated a week ago (FT 29/5).

In any event, one must not be distracted by such red herrings. The bottom line is that 60% of our low income earners are receiving wages below the poverty line. And that most of them have difficulty spending $40 a week on food for their families.

Professor Gangopadhyay himself found this a very “disturbing picture”. He found that the lowest paid category of workers did not benefit from such government assistance because for them the major worry was the cost of food.

Using $240 a week as the median for food expenditure in Fiji, he found that 50% of families spent less than this with the lowest income group, spending only $40 or less on food because that it all they can afford from their poor pay packet. He considered even $100 a week for food as being in the lower category.

With a minimum wage of $2.68 per hour, a worker will receive $117.92 per week. If $100 a week for food is considered on the lower end, certainly on the proposed NMW, he cannot put decent, nutritious food on the table for his family while meeting all his other living costs such as rent, water, electricity payments and meeting other household expenses.

Every worker in this country has a right to a decent, living wage. A fair wage, for fair work.

The NMW of $2.68 an hour, therefore, is not the answer to our problem of tackling poverty. We need to raise the national minimum wage rate above starvation wages to a level where a worker is able to meet the basic needs of his family, and still be able to save a little.

What then is a living wage for our workers? This is the crux of the matter.

The best option for determining a fair NMW may be through properly convened tripartite negotiations between the unions, employers and the government. The issue is too important to be resolved unilaterally by government imposing its own figure on the unions and the workers. Nor should it become a subject of political propaganda in the lead up to the 2018 elections.

A negotiated NMW, as we have already said, should have a bearing on the basic poverty line – we can’t have our people surviving on cassava and tea or roti and water.

On the other hand, the NMW should not lead to job losses. It must also take into consideration the ability of the employers to pay - small business operators, in particular.

There may be exceptions but how these are accommodated within the NMW framework must be agreed to in the negotiations.

An #interim #solution to the impasse may be to raise NMW to $3.50 per hour ($154 per week) to give immediate relief to workers in this category. Tripartite negotiations can then follow to fix the actual rate which must be indexed to inflation.