18 Mar 2015

UN agency expected to launch Fiji labour inquiry

6:01 pm on 18 March 2015

It's believed that the International Labour Organisation will institute a commission of inquiry to investigate breaches of international labour conventions in Fiji.

In October last year an ILO mission to Fiji found the country had a lot of work to do to restore internationally recognised labour standards.

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Photo: RNZI

Next week the government will present its case to the UN agency at its latest session in Geneva but the website Fijileaks has posted what looks like a draft decision from the ILO, that an inquiry is warranted.

The president of the Fiji Trade Union Congress, Daniel Urai, says the government won't be able to defend its actions.

"My understanding is the presentation is to explain why they have not amended the decrees which are in breach. Fiji has not done anything about it. The decision to have a commission of inquiry into Fiji, my understanding is that has already been made."

Daniel Urai says the government has drafted a Memorandum of Understanding on the future of industrial relations, which is a watered down version of what was agreed on during the ILO trip last year.