FPSA to challenge Hardwood Corp’s decision in court

The Fiji Public Service Association will today file a legal challenge in the Employment Relations Court against Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited’s decision to make 187 of its workers redundant last month.

The FPSA is claiming that this is a breach of the Employment Relations Promulgation.

According to the FPSA, FHCL, the Labour Ministry and the union should have met to discuss the matter before making this decision.

The FPSA is also claiming that the workers learnt about their redundancy notice in a circular issued by the company.

169 workers of the Waivunu Sawmill and Navutu Manufacturing Yard are members of the FPSA.

The closure of the two mills is a result of massive financial loss since 2004.

The FHCL board had earlier confirmed that the Navutu yard and Waivunu sawmill in Serua would soon be advertised for sale by tender.