Singh speaks out on log of claims

But he does not give any particulars of any claim seeking rise in minimum wage rate

The Fiji Public Service Association general secretary Rajeshwar Singh says the Employment Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) has no mandate to discuss his union’s log of claims.

Mr Singh adds that the FPSA filed its 15 per cent pay claim with the Government on December 22, 2015. He says it is now before the Arbitration Court. He was commenting on an analysis report that unions had not submitted their log of claims to ERAB.

The report did not make any reference to the public sector unions, but it was a general comment on all workers’ representatives who sit on the ERAB.

It is noted that Mr Singh does not have any locus to comment because he was not a nominee of the ERAB after he was removed due to differences with the Fiji Trades Union Congress, the nominating body.

The ERAB has intrinsic powers to deal with any employment issues concerning workers, employers and trade unions. While Mr Singh has focused on the log of claims he has not provided any particulars of any claim he had filed in seeking an increase in the minimum wage rate.

The ERAB has wide ranging powers that can deal with all employment matters. The Fiji Bank and Finance Sector Employees Union was the only non-public sector union that had filed a five per cent cost of living adjustment (COLA) against an insurance company. It was brought to the attention of ERAB. But it was not a log of claims.