News - Country:
Fiji - Theme: Human and Trade Union Rights
Fiji authorities further infringe trade union rights of teacher association (22 October 2009)
Tevita Koroi, President of Fijian Teachers Association, has been officially informed by the Ministry of Education that he will no longer be accepted as the representative of the FTA at major institutional education forums.
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The high level ministerial bodies include the Education Forum, the Fiji Teachers Registration Board, the Joint Consultative Committee, and the Staff Board.
On 30 April 2009, the Fiji Public Service Commission (PSC) had terminated Mr. Koroi from his position as school principal. The PSC based its decision on a statement Mr. Koroi made in his capacity of trade union leader. Now, the Education Ministry interferes in the right of workers organisations to nominate their representative.
The right of workers’ organizations to elect their own representatives freely is an indispensable condition for them to be able to act in full freedom and to promote effectively the interests of their members.
EI and FTA will report this serious infringement of the free exercise of trade union rights to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.
