Shania Shayal Prasad 
[Source: Tourism Fiji/ Facebook]
The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association is emphasizing the importance of the agreement in labour negotiations with the National Union of Catering, Hospitality, and Tourism Industry Employees in ensuring fairness and worker welfare within the sector.
Chief Executive Fantasha Lockington says while it took over ten years to come into effect, it sets out the minimum standards for what tourism worker conditions should be set at.
She also highlights that the guideline will be used as a template by hotels and accommodation providers to ensure that they’re doing the right thing, treating their workers fairly and that the workers can see a progression for their careers within the tourism industry.
“The other thing that it brings to the fore is that it creates this understanding that the tourism industry as an industry is slightly different from an ordinary employer. It is not an industry that closes; it is open 24/7, every single day of the year. It must compete. It is an industry that must compete regardless of where your operation is based.”
Lockington also underscores the importance of striving in the competitive sector.
“You can be in a rural area at the top of the mountains and the bottom of the valley, out on a very remote island, and you must still compete for that same business with your counterparts who are operating within a main urban area.”
Lockington adds that FHTA is committed to ensuring fair treatment of workers and businesses in the tourism sector.
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