The ITUC already had the opportunity to meet with DR Mohamad Ubn Chambas, African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) General Secretary in March this year to express its concern regarding serious workers’ rights violations in Fiji. According to the information gathered by the ITUC, Attorney General Aiyaz-Khaiyum, chair of today’s meeting, is responsible for having drafted and promulgated several repressive new executive decrees related to labour. Those decrees were deeply criticised by the supervisory bodies of the ILO, including the Committee of Expert and the Committee on Freedom of Association. Also, at the 15th Asia and pacific and Arab regional meeting of the ILO in Kyoto, a tripartite resolution has condemned the action of the Fiji government.

The ILO sent a mission to Fiji to verify the complaints, but the government presented the mission with new and unacceptable terms of reference despite a prior agreement on the terms. The ILO protested and the mission was forced to leave Fiji.

“While the regime may try to hide the truth, the evidence of its continuing repression of workers’ rights is nevertheless clear. The international community cannot allow the regime to get away with this unacceptable behaviour,” said Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary.

“You are honouring the regime by allowing them to chair this meeting, which we find simply shameful,” said Jaap Wienen, Deputy Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation, to an ACP Official that came to speak to the group of protesters gathered outside its headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.

According to the ITUC, it is rather strange that Fiji is sharing a trade meeting when its own trade relations with the United States and the European Union are being questioned because of human and labour rights violations.. “It is indeed clear that the ACP will not remain a credible institution by allowing member that are dictator to chair its meeting” Burrow added.