WORKERS’ CLAIMS FAR FROM REALITY
HAZELMAN SAID TO BE GIVING A STATEMENT LIKE THAT BY THE UNIONIST WAS UNFAIR GIVEN GOVT’S EFFORTS
The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) says, comments from the Fiji Trade Union Congress national president Daniel Urai are far from reality.
Federation chief executive officer, Nesbitt Hazelman, was referring to comments Mr Urai made during the FTUC Special Delegates Conference at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi yesterday.
Mr Urai claimed that the ongoing sad state of human rights and workers rights continued. Mr Hazelman said: “Mr Urai is entitled to his views. The employers’ views are that it’s far different from that in reality.
“To be giving a statement like that was rather unfair because the Government has rolled out things like the paternal leave, family care leave.
“All these issues never received a single comment at today’s meeting.
“We believe that there are a lot of good things that the Government has put in place.
“Work utilities have improved considerably, our roads have improved, the social programmes that Government has rolled out has continued to help workers and us in the areas of education and medical facilities.”
The conference saw about about 100 representatives from different unions attend, including the International Labour Organisation’s Director for Pacific Island countries, Donlin Li.
The Minister for Employment, Industrial Relations, Productivity Parveen Bala said he would not comment until he viewed the full statement made by Mr Urai. Mr Bala’s comments were not available when this edition went to press.
Mr Urai claimed: “The working people and the nation continue to suffer under this Government which has little or no regard for human and trade union rights, with workers jobs in uncertainty and their economic plight worsens as rising prices continues to push up the prices of utilities and all consumer goods.
“Services are coming to a stage that is beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
“It is futile to talk about continu- ing inflation rates in such a situation.”
Mr Urai said wage rate in the country was not increasing, contracts were being imposed and the rate of unemployment was high. “Workers cannot afford to buy reasonable houses, cost of food, even vegetables and transport, utilities are all rising steeply,” he said. “Graduates are either unemployed or under employed, we have influx of foreign workers.
“For years now, majority of wageearners including those who belong to unions also live below the poverty line.
“Trade Unions are here to stay, united and strong we are equal partners in the development of this nation and its economy.”
Mr Bala’s comments will be published when received