Battle over bus drivers heats up in Fiji

Transcript

Union Secretary Kamlesh Kumar says it is sad to see bus companies looking at bringing in workers from the Philippines to come and replace jobs in Fiji. He says the union has been recruiting more members and has recently filed claims for more just wages and reasonable working conditions.

"So the fight is on and we are currently dealing with quite a number of employees. Of course the employers are not cooperating. I mean we have taken the matters up with the Employment Tribunal and in the coming weeks we have got cases coming up before the Tribunal, so we'll take it from there."

Kamlesh Kumar says drivers are getting around F$180 for a 48 hour week which he says is an extremely pathetic wage and very difficult to support a family with. Opposition MP, Aseri Radrodro, says he's been told 36 foreign drivers have been brought in and they are being paid the minimum wage. The government increased the hourly minimum wage to $FJ2.68 in September but the SODELPA party says it should be $FJ4 dollars. Mr Radrodro says wages need to be competitive and it is the government's responsibility to ensure local unemployed people are given jobs before Filipiinos are brought in.

"When you look at the economics of it, it's a situation that needed to be addressed, we need to look after our employees in Fiji, especially in areas where there is an urgent need for review, in terms of better salaries, better working conditions."

The head of Intercity Buses in Fiji, says he thinks bus drivers on short routes started to demand more money with the recent introduction of the electronic ticketing system. Arun Lal says the government is still considering the move to allow Filipino bus drivers into Fiji but his company does employ other workers from the Philippines.

"Actually we are not importing bus drivers we are just importing bus mechanics and some bus body builders, workers in our garage and depots, to repair and maintain the buses. The drivers at the moment we are looking forward for that but we will see what is the feedback from the government."

Arun Lal says Fijian workers go overseas to look for better jobs and this is just the same thing with workers coming into Fiji looking for a better life.