51st Fiji Trade Union Congress Biennial Delegates Conference

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Salutations

  • Cabinet Ministers,
  • Representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation and the International Labour Organisation,
  • Trade union leaders from across the Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand,
  • The President and National Secretary of the Fiji Trades Union Congress Mr Felix Anthony,
  • Members of the National Executive Board,
  • Youth and Women Leaders of the Fiji Trade Union Congress,
  • Delegates from the affiliated unions,
  • Distinguished Guests,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bula Vinaka and a very good morning to you all.

  1. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand today, ki Na Werelevu i Navatulevu, Na Momo na Tui Nadi, and pay my respect to their Chiefs, past and present, as well as emerging leaders and acknowledge their role in caring for the Vanua.
  2. It is indeed a great honour to join you today at the 51st Biennial Delegates Congress of the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) here in Nadi.
  3. At the outset, I wish to congratulate the FTUC for successfully convening this important Congress in accordance with its Constitution and democratic traditions. For over five decades, the FTUC has remained a significant voice for workers in Fiji, advocating for dignity, and justice in the workplace.
  4. This Congress comes at a critical time when workers across the world, including here in Fiji, continue to face increasing economic pressures, rising living costs, changing labour markets, and the growing uncertainties brought about by global economic instability and climate change.

Today’s gathering is therefore not only timely, but necessary.

FTUC Achievements

  1. The Fiji Trades Union Congress today brings together 26 affiliated unions across both the public and private sectors. Through this Congress, you give voice to the aspirations, concerns, and lived experiences of thousands of hardworking Fijians, whose contribution underpins our economy and our society.
  2. In doing so, the FTUC has long served not merely as a representative body, but as a vital instrument of empowerment in ensuring that workers are organised, valued and able to participate meaningfully in shaping their working lives and their future.
  3. I also acknowledge the strong sense of regional and international solidarity evident at this Congress. The presence of colleagues from across the Pacific and beyond speaks to the enduring value of collective action and cooperation in advancing the rights, and wellbeing of working people.
  4. Fiji can rightly take pride in the fact that its trade union leaders continue to play respected and influential roles at the highest levels of the international labour movement, reflecting both the maturity of our institutions and the standing of our country in global labour affairs.
  5. The re-election of Mr Felix Anthony as President of the ITUC Asia Pacific for multiple terms is a remarkable achievement not only for the FTUC, but for Fiji as a nation. Likewise, the appointment of Ms Jotika Sharma as Chair of both the ITUC Asia Pacific Women’s Committee and the Global Women’s Committee demonstrates the strength and capability of Fijian leadership on the global stage. Please join me in congratulating them for these outstanding accomplishments.

Governments Commitment

  1. Government, since taking office, has acted with clear intent to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and renew meaningful engagement between Government, workers, and employers as partners in nation‑building.
  2. We inherited an industrial relations environment that was profoundly fractured. One in which many workers and indeed many trade union leaders felt silenced, marginalised, and excluded from the national conversation. That environment weakened institutions, undermined confidence, and compromised resilience.
  3. Government then made a conscious and deliberate decision to change that course.
  4. We are firmly of the view that strong and resilient economies are built not solely on investment and growth, but on fairness, inclusion, and respect for the dignity of working people. Sustainable resilience cannot exist where voices are ignored, and trust is absent.
  5. For this reason, we have restored social dialogue and strengthened tripartite engagement through key institutions such as the Employment Relations Advisory Board and the National Occupational Health and Safety Board. Ensuring that workers once again sit as equal partners alongside employers and Government.
  6. This is the Fiji we believe in. A Fiji where engagement replaces exclusion, where dialogue replaces division, and where every stakeholder has a voice in shaping our collective future.
  7. For far too long, many workers lived with uncertainty, frustration, and neglect. Government recognises those experiences. We are determined to establish a modern labour framework that protects rights, promotes fairness, strengthens resilience, and aligns Fiji with international labour standards fit for the challenges of today and the future.

Strengthening Workers Rights – NDP

  1. A central principle of the National Development Plan (or NDP) is that workers must never be left to carry the burden of economic hardship alone. As Government responds to global pressures such as inflation, fuel volatility, and external shocks, we remain firmly focused on safeguarding the dignity, security, and confidence of all working people.
  2. We recognise the need for a more structured, transparent, and predictable approach to wage reviews, informed by economic realities and cost‑of‑living considerations. These are necessary discussions that require balance, evidence, and genuine consultation. Government remains committed to engaging openly with workers and employers in a manner consistent with the objectives of the NDP.
  3. We also acknowledge unresolved matters affecting workers and their families, including compensation issues arising from the Vatukoula gold mine and the Water Authority of Fiji. These remain under active consideration, and Government is committed to fair and lawful outcomes.
  4. The NDP further underscores the importance of social protection and long‑term financial security. Strengthening confidence in the Fiji National Provident Fund is therefore a priority, with work continuing on reviewing its framework and governance, recognising that these funds represent the lifelong contributions of hardworking Fijians.
  5. The wellbeing of our teachers, nurses, and public servants remains a national priority. In the face of global competition for skilled professionals, Government continues to invest in working conditions, remuneration, skills development, and education and health infrastructure. Their service is indispensable to national resilience, and it must be recognised and supported accordingly.

International Commitments

  1. The advancement of women’s rights and gender equality in the workplace must remain central to our national development and to Fiji’s international commitments. Too many women continue to face violence, discrimination, and unequal representation, and these challenges demand sustained action.
  2. I commend the FTUC for its leadership in promoting women’s participation and advancing women into decision‑making roles. Women have long been drivers of fairness and social progress, and we must continue to create clear pathways for their leadership across all sectors of national life. As we approach Mother’s Day tomorrow, I also acknowledge and thank all mothers across Fiji for their strength, sacrifice, and invaluable contributions to our society.
  3. As Fiji engages in labour mobility through regional programmes, we carry a shared responsibility to uphold the rights and dignity of all workers, those who leave our shores to work abroad and those who come to Fiji to contribute their skills. Government remains firmly committed to ensuring that migrant workers are treated fairly and humanely, and that exploitation and abuse have no place in our society. Equally, Fijian workers overseas are entitled to protection, representation, and the right to organise in accordance with international labour standards.
  4. We are mindful of concerns relating to superannuation and access to retirement savings for returning workers and will continue to engage constructively with our partners to pursue fair and workable solutions.
  5. At the heart of Fiji’s international commitments lies a simple principle that economic growth must deliver better lives for ordinary people. Development must be inclusive, growth must be shared, and prosperity must extend to every community.

Tripartism is Key

  1. At this juncture in our national journey, it is clear that partnership is central to resilience. Fiji is strongest when Government, workers, and employers engage in good faith, guided by mutual respect and a shared commitment to the national interest.
  2. Tripartism is not merely procedural. It is a cornerstone of sound governance and stable industrial relations. Government remains firmly committed to strengthening that partnership through inclusion, trust and dialogue.
  3. A democratic society is most secure when rights are respected, voices are heard, and institutions are trusted. Trade unions have a legitimate and indispensable role in that democratic space. When workers feel protected, employers are engaged, and Government leads with transparency and respect. Fiji can then advance with confidence, unity, and resilience.

Climate Change Threats

  1. Climate change remains one of the greatest threats facing our region and our workers. Beyond rising sea levels and natural disasters, climate change affects livelihoods directly. Workers lose income during cyclones, floods, and extreme weather events. Families face disruptions, uncertainty, and hardship.
  2. Fiji will continue advocating strongly for climate justice while also working domestically to build resilience and protect vulnerable communities and workers.

National Living Wage

  1. I understand that later today the FTUC will launch Fiji’s first-ever call for a National Living Wage.
  2. This is an important national conversation. Government welcomes constructive dialogue that seeks practical and sustainable solutions to improve the lives of workers and their families.
  3. We may not always agree on every issue, but what matters is that we continue to engage respectfully, openly, and in good faith.That is the spirit of democracy. That is the spirit of partnership. And that is the Fiji we are building together.

Conclusion

  1. I wish to also acknowledge our brothers and sisters from Pacific trade unions who are present here for this Congress and for the Pacific Islands Council of Trade Unions General Council meeting to follow.
  2. Your partnership with the FTUC strengthens regional solidarity and helps ensure that Pacific workers continue to have a united and influential voice.
  3. Workers are the backbone of every nation. They build our economies, sustain our communities, and carry our country forward through difficult times.
  4. I wish you all a productive and successful Congress. May your deliberations be constructive, forward-looking, and united in the interests of all workers.
  5. Vinaka Vakalevu, Thank You, and Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers.
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