A Raft of Proposed Bills is to go Before First Cabinet Meeting to be Tabled at Next Parliament Session
As the new coalition Government continues to implement changes, a raft of proposed bills will go before the first Cabinet meeting scheduled for today in Suva.
The bills will repeal or amend old laws or introduce new ones. The changes will enable Government to carry out its policies that require an Act of Parliament.
One of the first laws to go is the no jab no job policy. A number of workers lost their jobs because they were not vaccinated. Once the law is repealed those workers should be able to get their jobs.
The Attorney-General, Siromi Turaga, had declined to preside in a case over the issue when he was a magistrate and was relieved from his position in the judiciary. The new Government has announced that those workers who were unfairly sent home from work will get their jobs back.
The controversial Bill 17 which was enacted by Parliament and gives tenants on iTaukei communal land an easier access to services such as water and electricity without the landowners’ consent will be another law to go. Other laws that directly affect the rights and welfare of iTaukei landowners.
Workers and trade unions, plus civil society organisations will soon not need a permit to protest or demonstrate in the streets. The law will be amended and the relevant section repealed. It will give workers more freedom to agitate and express themselves.
The changes are in line with policies of the coalition members which they can only implement with the law change. They will enable the Government to implement the changes in the first 100 days. This will be an important Cabinet meeting because it will accelerate these changes. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s first State visit overseas will be finalised. Mr Rabuka plans to travel to Kiribati to talk to the President there for the island nation to return to Pacific Islands Forum. Cabinet will be briefed on the changes that have happened in the civil service and will happen. We hope that these changes will bring about the desired outcomes.
NEMANI DELAIBATIKI
Feedback: nemani.delaibatiki@fijisun.com.fj