ACTU actions will affect jobs: AG

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is again trying to damage the jobs of ordinary Fijian workers by calling on Australians not to visit Fiji, says Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

“We appeal to ordinary Australians to examine the facts rather than heed union propaganda on behalf of certain fat cat unionists in Fiji, who are putting their interests ahead of ordinary Fijians," he said in a statement.

 "It is doing so on the basis of a false impression that the Fijian Government is anti-union. We are trying to protect the jobs of our citizens, not destroy them."

He said the government is perplexed that trade unions seem willing, for their own political purposes, to sacrifice the jobs of working people in Fiji.

“Australians need to be aware that the jobs of thousands of workers in the local tourism industry are at stake. They have a deep affection for the Australian people and do not deserve to become pawns in a union squabble.”

He said small clique of union leaders in Fiji is fighting the Government's labour reforms, which are designed to return power to ordinary workers and expand job opportunities.

By Ropate Valemei