Fiji "diplomats" boast military prowess

Thanks to Michael Field's web-site, we reproduce here chilling images, publicly hosted by the Foreign Affairs divisions social media sites aiding their "publicity".

Yes that's right folks. While taxpayers tussle with hiked prices to staples such bread, butter and fuel, this illegal and treasonous bungling lot cavort around the world on public funds, re-living their juvenile delinquent years to play cowboys and injuns in the desert.

If this is the kind of publicity that they want Fiji to be proud of, hot on the heels of the announcement that Fiji is one of 21 Vice-Presidents for the upcoming 66th session of the UN General Assembly, it should be no surprise at all to regional watchers that Fiji's tragic coup epidemic has spread like wildfire across Melanesia.

From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignaffairs-fiji/5919336697/

 

From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignaffairs-fiji/5919363985/

"Surprisingly, these men are proud of themselves. So is the Fiji military regime regime. These pictures have just been published by the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their Flickr photostream. It will be intriguing to see how long the photos remain there though - which is why the above photos are screen captures. The Flirkr urls are below: watch how long they last.

These men were guarding - or posing - with the military appointed president Epeli Nailatikau as he toured the Sinai desert.

No doubt our two heroes were poised to take out any threatening camels."

FNPF tiptoes around volleying between regime and Unions

While the illegal and treasonous regime is now hard at war with unions in Fiji, motivated by the false bravado of yet another illegal decree, the superannuation fund FNPF tiptoes around the cross-fire and tries to carefully weave its way around the rapid volleying in order to keep out of the public spotlight, and by default therefore, out of the line-of-sight of growing and more vociferous public ire.

Regrettably for the regime and their slow uptake, the two issues are so intensely intertwined that they are in fact mutually dependent.

A decline in productivity and/or more job losses means a decline in pension funds, no matter how they attempt to reform it. 

Everybody in this country except for the pathological liar Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum and his lapdog, Voreqe Bainimarama ultimately loses out.

Fund's update on reforms
Elenoa Baselala
Friday, August 05, 2011

FIJI National Provident Fund members were largely concerned with the "timelines or phases of the revised pension design", chief executive Aisake Taito said while giving an update on the reform to The Fiji Times Business.

The Fiji Times Business asked the fund on the number of submissions received, how they were analysed, how many people were dedicated to analysing the submissions and whether some of the submissions would be taken on board.

The fund replied: "FNPF received a number of submissions, both written and oral, during the public consultation period.

"These submissions are currently being reviewed and subject to further actuarial assessment.

"Based on feedbacks from the consultation process, members generally have agreed on the need for changes to ensure sustainability at the fund, the need to deliver excellent services and the need to grow investments.

"All of the above are aligned to the objectives of the FNPF reform."

The fund however did not comment on the sustainability of the fund if those earning pension incomes less than $800 would not be affected.

Those earning below $800 have already been paid an excess of $109m or 67 per cent more than what they saved.

The above $800 have been paid an extra $95m or 74 per cent more than what they saved.

"For the fund to remain sustainable, it needs to continually adjust to the changing operating environment. The proposed pension reform is the first comprehensive review that has been undertaken by the fund since it was established in 1966 and the pension scheme was introduced in 1975.

"Based on actuarial studies, the proposed rates will ensure the sustainability of the fund in the next 40-50 years," Mr Taito said.

Pensioners above 60 years number 7349 and 6498 of them receive pension below the $800 category while those above $800 a month total 851.

(Australian) Government condemns intimidation of Fiji trade unionists

Media release
Martin Ferguson AM MP, Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for Tourism, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs.
4 August 2011

The Acting Foreign Minister, Martin Ferguson, today condemned the arrest and charging of two Fiji trade unionists, including the President of the Fiji Trade Union Council Daniel Urai.

The unionists were charged under Fiji’s Public Emergency Regulations for holding a meeting with other trade unionists without a permit. Both have been released on bail and are due to appear in court on 2 September.

“This is another example of the draconian Public Emergency Regulations being used to restrict basic human freedoms. The spate of arrests and beatings in recent months are further evidence that this is a brutal regime,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Australia's acting High Commissioner to Fiji today met with the acting Permanent Secretary of the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey Australia’s concerns about the safety of Fiji workers, and the welfare of the two trade unionists. The Acting High Commissioner made it clear Australia was watching developments closely.”

Australia is deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Fiji. Since 2006 the Bainimarama regime has abrogated the constitution; detained political leaders; sacked the independent judiciary; censored the media; and restricted meetings of civil society, including church groups.

Despite commitments to hold elections in 2014, it is not clear that the regime intends to make good on its promise.

The restriction of labour rights is part of a concerted campaign to curtail the human rights of the people of Fiji. The rights of workers in Fiji have been targeted through a series of decrees restricting labour rights, the most recent of which was aimed at essential industries.

Australia remains committed to the people of Fiji who are facing deteriorating economic conditions as well as restrictions of their human rights. Australia is the largest bilateral aid donor to Fiji. Our aid program for 2011-2012 totals $37.5m.

Media inquiries
    Minister's office: (02) 6277 7500
    DFAT Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555

Regime plays hardball with Unions

Despite the unconvincing feigning-of-ignorance by the illegal and treasonous Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, the already public news of the draconian pretend-laws against unions have finally seen the light of day despite all he and his friends' efforts to put union officials under pressure.

Essential National Industries Employment Decree gazetted
Publish date/time: 03/08/2011 [17:13]

No strikes, job actions, sick outs, slowdowns or other financially or operationally harmful activities shall be permitted at any time for any reason for designated corporations under the new Essential National Industries Employment Decree.

These actions are prohibited in connection with a union’s efforts to obtain registration as a representative of a Bargaining Unit, a union’s efforts to influence the outcome of collective bargaining, and disputes over the interpretation or application of any collective agreements.

The decree states that if the parties have not agreed upon a new or successor collective agreement based on the period stated, the Bargaining Unit through a secret ballot verified by the Minister may go on strike or the employer may implement a lockout however a 28 days’ notice has to be given to the Minister and prior written approval needs to be obtained by the Minister.

The new Essential National Industries Employment Decree states that given the nature of their employment, flight duty restrictions and duty period scheduling, no pilot, cabin crew, or engineer employed or engaged in any airline industry shall be eligible for overtime pay, unless otherwise agreed by the employer and the representative.

It further states that no person employed in any “designated corporation” that operates on a fulltime 7 days a week or 24 hours a day shall, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the employer and the representative, be entitled to any overtime pay for work performed on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays.

There shall be no requirement for an employer under the decree to deduct union fees from a workers’ salary or wages unless agreed otherwise by the employer.

The decree further states that the Wages Council shall have no jurisdiction over any “designated corporation” or essential national industry, and any order, determination or regulations of the Wages Council shall not apply to “designated corporation” or essential national industry.

President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has gazetted the Essential National Industries Employment Decree and it is stated that the purpose of the decree is to ensure the viability and sustainability of certain industries that are essential to the economy.

The decree has termed designated corporations or companies which operate in an essential national industry and these companies will be designated by the Minister.

An essential industry is also termed as those which the government has a majority and essential interest in.

It is also stated that upon commencement of the decree, all members, office bearers, officers and executives of the union within a designated corporation or company must be employees of the designated company.

Any union registered which represents workers employed by the designated corporations must re-register as a representative.

The Essential National Industries Employment Decree states that any person or body or any union representative who fails to comply shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or five years imprisonment or both, and in the case of a union to a fine not exceeding $100,000.

It is also stated that upon commencement of the decree, all existing collective agreements will only be valid for a period of 60 days while new or replacement collective agreements are negotiated.

It further states that all existing collective agreements shall be null and void and no longer binding between the parties.

If no new collective agreement is in place, then the designated corporation may implement new terms and conditions of employment through a new collective agreement or individual contracts.

If an employer under the Essential National Industries Employment Decree has suffered operating losses for two consecutive years, it shall have the immediate right to re-negotiate all its existing collective agreements. Stay with us we will have more at 5pm.

Story by: Vijay Narayan

Unfortunately they ignore at their peril, one minor detail -- what they trying to control in this instance is not confined to Fiji, which points to the sudden urgency in the illegal and treasonous military regimes desperation, that can only mean more costly blunders.

Let this be another lesson to other naive individuals who believe that pleading with the illegal and treasonous President (who just threw workers in Fiji under a bus by gazetting this illegal decree) on other issues will move him.

Post-script: Thanks to the scoop from fellow blog C4.5, the full text of the draconian decree curtailing workers rights in Fiji, is also available here.