Controversy over Fiji sweat shops

CONTROVERSY continues to surround the garment industry in Fiji, with the

industry attacking unscrupulous oper

ators and the union concerned calling for a council to monitor wages and con ditions.

Garment Manufacturers Association chairman Padam Lala said “a handful of

unscrupulous operators” were tarnishing

the image of the entire industry. He was commenting on revelations that some workers in the clothing factories were re ceiving as little as 9 cents an hour. A survey by the Ministry of Employment and Industrial Relations showed that in 63 per cent of factories surveyed, work ers were receiving less than 51c an hour and, in 81 per cent of cases, no overtime rates were paid. Rates varies from 9 to 13c an hour for beginners, 50c for machinists and up to F 53.50 an hour for foreman and supervisors.

Lala said the news came as a dis appointment. “I have repeatedly been

given assurances verbally, and in writing,

by members of my association that the minimum rate prevailing is 60c an hour for unskilled and new employees,” he

said. The 60c rate had been agreed to by manufacturers in the absence of any for mal training programme for garment workers. Lala described the low wages revealed by the survey as “unfair and irrational”.

The Fiji Association of Garment Work ers, in calling for a wages council, said about a third of garment manufacturers in Fiji had honoured commitments on wages. Association secretary Ema Druavesi said the garment industry had agreed in 1986 to a minimum wage of 50c. One worker involved in piece work received just Fss a week after tax. She urged that the wages council should in clude representatives from the Govern ment, workers and employers.

The union said some workers com plained that they received less than the amounts on their payslips but when they

questioned the employer they were told

nothing could be done about it. Others said they missed tea breaks because they had not completed enough work. Most factories had improper seating ben ches rather than chairs, and many factor ies had inadequate ventilation. □

Honey production increases ALL honey consumed in the Solomon Islands will be produced domestically by the end of the year, replacing the 20 tonnes imported from Australia and New Zealand each year. Honey is now being produced in most provinces, with the main concentrations in Western and Malaita. The Solomons is now also manufacturing hives and has received orders from New Zealand.

Labour deregulation considered PRIVATE employers may be allowed to offer more competitive wages for work ers with specialised skills, under labour deregulation proposals now being consi dered by the Fiji Government. The Secretary to the Government Poseci Bune said the move was part of the Gov ernment’s strategy of developing and maintaining skilled manpower resources resources which have been hit badly by the large-scale emigration of skilled workers since the military coups.

Bune said there would also be upgrad ing and re-orienting of major training institutions to become more responsive to employer needs.