Fijileaks
  • Home
  • Archive Home
  • In-depth Analysis
    • BOI Report into George Speight and others beatings
  • Documents
  • Opinion
  • CRC Submissions
  • Features
  • Archive

LET OFF THE HOOK: ILO closes the Article 26 complaint against Fiji, so there will be no Commission of Inquiry. Was it Much Ado About Nothing?

25/3/2016

14 Comments

 
Picture
There will be no Commission of Inquiry against Fiji after the International Labour Organisation Governing Body decided to close the Article 26 complaint filed against Fiji.

The decision was made at the 326th Session on Thursday.

The Fijian Government Delegation to the Governing Body was led by Acting Permanent Secretary for Employment Salaseini Daunabuna and complemented by the Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Permanent Representative Namita Khatri, and First Secretary Ajendra Pratap.

Also in attendance were the representative of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation Nesbitt Hazelman and Fiji Trades Union Congress national secretary Felix Anthony.

The Fijian Government Delegation informed the Governing Body about the success of the ILO Tripartite Mission in January and the subsequent signing of the single Joint Implementation Report between the Fijian Government, the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation and the Fiji Trades Union Congress.

The important achievements and concessions contained in the single Joint Implementation Report were also highlighted to the Governing Body and the passage in which this was swiftly transcended into law.

The delegation stated that there will now be pursuit of pertinent projects with ILO such as Decent Work for All, Disabilities in Workplace, Gender Parity and Increasing Employment Opportunities for Youths.

The Governing Body was also informed that for too long the Fijian Government’s energies have focused on the Article 26 Complaint to the detriment of other constructive programmes offered by ILO and relevant to labour reforms in Fiji.

The closure of the Article 26 Complaint means that Fiji will also embark on rebuilding labour relations and harnessing sustainable labour practices through social dialogue with the social partners and ILO.

This will become real and apparent now with the closure of the Article 26 Complaint against Fiji and the sentiments echoed by the ILO and member States is that the closing of the Article 26 Complaint makes Fiji an example of the true essence of tripartism and how it can be achieved.

Picture
14 Comments
Pita
26/3/2016 01:13:39 am

A lof of energy and money would have been saved had Khaiyum been open to the start to the well acknowledged international principle of tripartite dialogue between representatives of workers, employers and govt. Now they have arrived at a compromise in Geneva. The trouble with compromise agreements is what is left out and one is clearly the absence of workers reps on the board of the FNPF and what in fact should by right be its oversight body the Fiji Tripartite Forum. The FNPF was the child of the Fiji Tripartite Forum in the early 1970s and both bodies were copied from Singapore, one of the most dynamic economies of the world. Here in Fiji the Tripartite Forum has been shelved along with the voice of workers at the national level and within the board of the FNPF and government is acting as if it is the sole owner of the FNPF. This is sadly a matter of little importance to workers leaders like Dan urai and Felix Anthony, though surprisingly as individuals who have represented individiuals on the FNPF boad one would expect that they would see the restoration of the workers' voice as a priority enough to raise with the tripartite based ILO

Reply
Chiku
26/3/2016 03:51:24 am

Yes, it's only the political class ( the local elites and their international counterparts) going through the ritual motions. They don't actually loose any sleep when workers don't have decent work. They will make more trips to TALK about the need for that. That's all.

Reply
Still confused
26/3/2016 04:04:14 am

I don't know if I could ever trust Felix Anthony. Sometimes I wonder whether he does all he does so he can just be seen as a hero when in actual fact, he just angles out to eventually get Govt cleared! I mean look at the many times he has done this! And yes was he not their Board member again on FNPF? yes that's right. He was!

Reply
Welcome Home
26/3/2016 08:37:51 am

Watching and listening carefully in the Nadi Town Council chamber during the so-termed 'Consultation' concerning the future restructuring of FNPF, the most noteworthy tone was set by the late arrival of those tasked with the exercise; the arrogant demeanour and failure to deploy appropriate language were a true engagement to be seen as intended. For those of us witnessing the disgusting demeanour of the lead players, it will remain for ever as an example of imposed and bullying 'over-reach' which will require full accountability and fulsome apology and compensation. Until this is done in Good Faith, more than a bad taste will remain. What abides is an over-arching stench of purported corrupt practice, sleight of hand, and it is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon (sic). The Tripartite Architecture for Industrial Relations was intended to obviate such high-handed behaviour. But it is only as good as the representatives nominated and elected to serve. There must be a Parity of Skills in play and integrity of persons and the process is of paramount importance. So ....... What went wrong and is the IR cupboard bare?

Reply
Kumar
26/3/2016 06:39:29 pm

Felix Anthony can not be trusted to look after welfare of workers. He is very erratic and moody. Worst of all, he is gutless, totally gutless. In the ILO case, he has been bullied by Aiyaz Kaiyum left right and centre. Workers need stable and gutty leaders. Anyone who wants to only fly business class and demands this treatment, is unworthy of union leadership.

Reply
Chiku
26/3/2016 10:58:23 pm

Unlike the trade union leadership of old who made massive personal sacrifices and did the hard yards to secure the rights of workers to a decent living wage and working conditions, modern day trade union aristocrats often caricature the corporate elites and the political elites and pay mostly lip service to " fighting " for workers rights.

Reply
Fiji is full of Crooks
27/3/2016 04:36:56 am

Khao Piyo Ghumo Firo brigrade ....

Reply
Unionist
27/3/2016 12:12:46 pm

The present union leaders - one mantra: we cant do anything to protect workers rights in this environment.

The older generation union leaders - one mantra: we will change the environment so that workers rights are protected.

Reply
Tpmasi
27/3/2016 08:55:55 pm

Yes. The fact that there will be no ILO Com Of Inquiry simply means that the Government and Employers Federation would never be held responsible and accountable to the massive and blatant exploitation of Fijian workers during Khai and Bai’s reign. It also means that they never committed any wrong, and they had always been right after all. This means that the status quo of dictatorial rule by decree, no matter how repressive, exploitative, illegal or immoral, will continue, as long as Khai and Bhai are in control.
Anyway, outcomes are always the result of processes. The election results are a consequence of a carefully designed and engineered process to produce a sham of a parliament that essentially legalised and legitimised the Khai/Bhai dictatorship. The ILO process has produced a major victory for the twin dictators and a major disappointment to our workers. But it comes as no surprise; just take a look at the people (participants) at the meeting. All of them are owned and controlled by the dictators. The question is who represented the workers and the ordinary people of Fiji.

Reply
Rajend Naidu
28/3/2016 02:29:49 am

Editor,
CORRUPT LEADER
The former Malaysian Attorney General planned to lay charges against PM Najib Razak . That corruption scandal regarding over $1 billion deposited into Razak's personal account as " donation " is the biggest corruption scandal involving any democratically elected leader.
( ABC Four Corners tonight will provide an insight into it)
Now we know why Razak got rid of the previous AG and installed his crony in his place.
It was to protect his paachu/backside.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Reply
Rajend Naidu
28/3/2016 09:19:15 pm

Editor,
I saw the ABC Four Corners investigation report on the corruption scandal surrounding Malaysian PM Najib Razak last night and discovered it's far worse than I thought.
Malaysian has actually fallen under THUG RULE under PM Razak. He has imposed a reign of fear and terror. The Malaysian people live in perpetual fear of the PM and his henchmen. He has rendered all state institutions impotent according to former PM Dr Mahathir Mohammed and assumed absolute power, thus making democratic governance in Malaysia a fiction.
The world has now been alerted by Four Corners bold investigation.
It is now up to the appropriate international bodies to take action .
It would be a crying shame if Razak can still continue business as usual .
That should not be allowed to happen if we are serious about democratic governance.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Reply
On-Song
29/3/2016 02:12:19 am

The ILO investigation was never going to happen with Felix representing the workforce of Fiji. There was little impact through the ineffective roles of the current FTUC, FICTU leaderships and other union bodies for the Banks, Hotel workers, Tourism and the Airlines - there is just no longer any spine worth leaning on!!! At least just one demand; workers' representatives in the FNPF Board

Reply
Kumar
29/3/2016 07:54:57 pm

No spine in unionists. Word now is around that AG Khaiyum has used FICAC fo collect dirt on all union leaders, and is using this to blackmail them. He knows everything nasty about Felix Anthony. There is a lot of corrupt dealings by him. He knows everything about Agni Deo Singh, Rajeshwar Singh, Daniel Urai, Attar Singh. So these chaps are now spineless. The man Khaiyum is nasty. But he will fall. They all tyrants fall, Gandhi said once.

Reply
Chiku
31/3/2016 12:13:31 am

' ILO to monitor laws' ( Fiji Times 31/03).
Wow! Is this breaking news? Isn't that what the ILO does ritually to keep their own fat cats gainfully occupied?

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    editor@fijileaks.com

    ARCHIVES

    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    Picture
    Picture