Labor 'Pains' During Public Enterprise Reforms in Fiji

Abstract

This paper presents an account of industrial relation issues, as public entities in Fiji journey into reforms. Based on the published studies and archival data, the paper identifies the causes of failure which deranged management/employee/union relationships in the reforming public entities. Case discussions of six entities brought to the forefront the constituting features of Fijian industrial relations such as trends towards in-house unions, individual contracts and downsizing. While the managements claim that they are consulting their employees, generally the common practice is one of superficial consultation, if any. In retrospect, organizational reforms also end up reforming industrial relations. This paper gives a brief account of six reformed government entities and discusses how non-consultation with employees can lead to management-employee problems.