Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Fiji (Ratification: 2008)

Article 2 of the Convention. National policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel. The Government indicates in its report that a number of measures have been taken with regard to the training and development of nurses. These measures include training in hospitals abroad to provide nurses with exposure to advanced clinical expertise and public health programmes, including training in medical teams deployed for an assignment in the Golan Heights. The Government also provides for in-country training and professional development with, inter alia, sponsorship of post-graduate training in midwifery practice, and opportunities for holders of Diplomas in Nursing to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme. The Fiji College of Nursing, the Division of Nursing, the Fiji National University and the TISI Sangam College of Nursing offer training and professional development opportunities, including in-service trainings. In addition, through the Ministry of Health, a number of initiatives have been taken to re-evaluate nurses’ wages. Under the recent Job Evaluation (JEE), which covers all civil servants, nursing was moved up to a new salary band, resulting in a new starting salary for registered nurses of 20,163.00 Fijian dollars (FJD). Moreover, in August 2017, the Government announced that it had allocated 800 positions for the newly created category of “nursing specialist”, with a starting salary of FJD$28,605.00. The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government that nursing stakeholders had collectively pursued a Fair Pay initiative via the Fiji Nursing Association. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of these measures and programmes, and to keep it informed of new initiatives adopted or envisaged after consultation with the competent nursing institutions and the Fiji Nurses Association, which aims to improve the status and working conditions of nurses, to attract them to the profession and retain them.

Article 7. Occupational health and safety. The Committee notes the Government’s commitment to finalization of the Work Care Bill, which is still under consideration. It also notes that funds have been allocated to hire a consultant to review the Workers Compensation Bill, which is part of the Work Care Bill. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress concerning the finalization of the work-care decree and to transmit a copy of the new legislation once it has been adopted.