Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Fiji (Ratification: 2010)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes that, while the economy of Fiji has experienced steady growth in recent years, tropical cyclone Winston, which struck on 20 February 2016, resulted in human, economic, social and environmental losses and has had an impact on the national labour market. According to the Fiji Labour Market Update of April 2016, published by the ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries, improving the quality of jobs is key to ensuring sustainable economic development in Fiji and will require, among other things, intensive infrastructure investments in ongoing reconstruction efforts, supporting micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises to recover lost income and restart their businesses. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that the National Employment Policy (NEP) has been developed by the Technical Committee established by the National Employment Centre (NEC) to formulate Fiji’s first NEP. The Government reports that the Technical Committee held five meetings and is now reviewing the final draft NEP, after having received feedback from the NEC board. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on progress made with respect to the formulation and adoption of an active employment policy, in consultation with the social partners, as well as on the impact of active employment measures taken to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. Furthermore, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information on the manner in which employment policy objectives are coordinated with other economic and social objectives and what procedures exist for deciding on employment policy measures and keeping them under review within the framework of an overall economic and social policy.

Labour market trends. The Government refers to the 2014 Annual Employment Survey of the Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBOS), which indicates that paid employment in registered establishments was 144,150 as at the end of June 2014, 12.5 per cent higher than the count of 131,583 recorded in June 2011, the previous survey year. Of the total, 94,157 (65.3 per cent) were males and 49,993 (34.7 per cent) were females. The Committee further notes that, according to the preliminary findings of the 2015–16 Employment and Unemployment Survey published by the FBOS, Fiji’s unemployment rate declined to 5.5 per cent in 2015–16, down from 7.1 per cent in 2010–11, marking the lowest unemployment rate in Fiji in the last 15 years. According to the FBOS preliminary findings, however, youth unemployment rates remain high, reaching 18 per cent in 2015–16. Furthermore, according to the ILO Fiji Labour Market Update of April 2016, Fiji’s labour force participation rate in 2014 was relatively low, at 59 per cent, being driven down by low female participation, 41.6 per cent compared to a 75.8 per cent rate for men. The Labour Market Update indicates that women are more likely to be in informal employment and engaged in subsistence activities. The Committee also notes that, according to the National Strategic Human Resources Plan 2011–15 provided together with the Government’s report, occupational segregation and gender segregation remain persistent, and available jobs for women have declined sharply, notably with the decline in the garment industry. The Plan also notes that the 2 per cent quota established in the Employment Relations Promulgation of 2007 for the employment of people with disabilities has not been filled. It indicates that mechanisms being set up through the NEC could provide services to match persons with disabilities with job opportunities to improve their access to employment. The Plan stresses the need for improved technical and vocational training to address skills shortages required to attract more private investment and generate sustainable, quality employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information in its next report on trends in the labour market, including on employment and unemployment, disaggregated by age and sex. More specifically, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the employment situation of groups vulnerable to decent work deficits, such as women, young persons, persons with disabilities, older workers, rural workers and those in the informal economy. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or contemplated to decrease the gender gap in employment, identify and address skills shortages, improve job creation and increase labour market participation, particularly for women and young people.

Labour market information. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide updated information on the measures taken to improve its labour market information system. In this regard, the Government refers to the draft Development of Labour Market Information System Policy, which establishes the framework within which the Ministry of Employment will work towards the establishment of Labour Market Information for the Government. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information in its next report on the outcome of measures taken to improve its labour market information system and to indicate how and to what extent the labour market information obtained is used in the formulation and implementation of employment policy measures.

Informal economy. The Committee notes that, according to the ILO Fiji Labour Market Update of April 2016, around 60 per cent of Fiji’s workers were in informal employment in 2010–11. Moreover, the rate of informal employment in rural areas (78.7 per cent) was nearly double that in urban areas. The prevalence of informality was a significant concern, particularly in the agricultural sector, where informal employment was estimated at over 95 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on programmes and measures implemented to enhance job growth and to facilitate the transition of workers from the informal to the formal economy.

Rural workers. The Committee recalls the Government’s indication in its 2014 report that employment programmes targeting rural workers had been adopted and implemented with the cooperation of indigenous peoples. The Government indicates that the new recruitment strategy for the Seasonal Workers Programme for Australia and New Zealand focuses its recruitment activities on rural workers in remote and isolated areas of Fiji and in areas affected by the tropical cyclone Winston, which are primarily rural villages and remote islands. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of employment measures targeting rural workers, including indigenous workers.

Education and training. The Government refers in its report to the National Development Plan, the Green Growth Framework and the Tertiary Education Strategy, indicating that it seeks to attract more private investment to Fiji in order to build an economy which generates sustainable, quality employment. It adds that the Government intends to attract investors in part by producing graduates with skills needed by industry. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the measures taken or envisaged to improve the tertiary education and vocational and technical training system and to enhance its labour market relevance so as to better align the demand and supply of skills. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which the social partners and other stakeholders concerned are consulted with respect to the development of education and training programmes that meet the needs of the labour market.

Employment services. The Government indicates that it seeks to ensure the growth of local businesses that can contribute to the national economy, noting that the micro-, small and medium-sized businesses represent 10–12 per cent of Fiji’s gross domestic product. Since its inception in 2015, the Micro and Small Business Grant Scheme has assisted 6,622 entrepreneurs in transitioning into the formal economy, in businesses ranging from cash cropping and poultry farming to tailoring and hairdressing. Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism continues to provide business development support services to entrepreneurs. The National Centre for Small Business Enterprise offers mentoring and training in the areas of financial management and sound business practices. Most of the recipients of the grants are women who start businesses in tailoring, canteen services, handicrafts, second-hand clothing and farming. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the activities of the employment services, including the number of beneficiaries of these services placed in lasting employment following their completion of training. It also requests the Government to provide updated information on the outcome of measures taken to promote the development of micro- and small businesses.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes the examples provided by the Government of the involvement of the social partners in the development of employment policies and programmes. The Secretariat of the NEC conducted consultations on the appointment of the Technical Committee, the final draft of the NEP was presented to the Technical Committee and the Technical Committee members from the civil society, unions and employers representatives unanimously agreed that the draft policy be drafted again by the consultant. Although the Government mentions that the Committee is relooking at the Policy following feedback from the tripartite NEC board, it does not indicate how the social partners are exactly involved. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information indicating the nature and extent of the involvement of the social partners in the development and adoption of the NEP.