Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Fiji (Ratification: 1974)

With regard to its previous comments concerning section 10 of the Counter-Inflation (Remuneration) Act, which allows for the restriction or regulation of remuneration of any kind by order of the Prices and Incomes Board and stipulates that any agreement or arrangement which does not respect these limitations will be illegal and deemed to be an offence, the Committee notes that according to the Government: (1) section 10 is and will remain suspended until such time as the economic situation in the country justifies its reactivation; (2) there are no remuneration guidelines or wage ceilings; (3) collective bargaining is free and unrestricted; (4) wage agreements are normally reviewed annually. The Committee takes due note of the fact that section 10 of the Counter-Inflation (Remuneration) Act has been suspended for many years. The Committee also considers, however, that the possibility of reactivating this provision at any time is not in conformity with the principles of free and voluntary collective bargaining. The Committee once again requests the Government to consider amending the provisions of section 10 of the Counter-Inflation (Remuneration) Act so as to bring its legislation into full conformity with Article 4 of the Convention.