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UNI is showing solidarity with workers in Fiji facing new legislation introduced to destroy the country’s trade unions. In a letter of protest sent to the Prime Minister of Fiji, UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings condemns the criminalisation of legitimate trade union activity in the country.



The Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) says the Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree 2011 is set to "effectively abolish all trade unions in Fiji". Unions will be forced to re-register under new rules which will all but eliminate the right to take strike action and remove almost all collective bargaining rights as well as voiding collective agreements.



In the protest letter, Jennings demands that Prime Minister Bainimarama to remedy the situation, “We call on your government to immediately take action to withdraw such decrees so as to ensure trade union activities can be undertaken in accordance with democratic law.”



This anti-union legislation comes during a period of heightened harassment of trade unionists in Fiji. FTUC President Daniel Urai, was recently arrested when a regular union meeting was broken up by police after revoking its permit to assemble. The police raid on the union’s meeting came shortly after a high level delegation from International Labour Organisation met with the FTUC.



UNI says the global labour movement will continue to campaign until the democratic rights of the Fijian workers are restored.