
Issue No 63		21 July 2000

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News

Downer's Fiji Muddle Deepens

The Howard Government has been accused of granting trade concessions to Fiji at the same time as they are considering imposing sanctions over the overthrow of democratically elected leader Mahendra Chaudhury.

Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union state secretary Barry Tubner says that the Howard Government has agreed to unilaterally extend the SPARTECA Agreement, providing trade privileges to the textile and clothing companies operating in the Fijian Free Trade Zones.

"Even though the agreement has expired and the Australian Government is in no way legally required to observe the terms of the agreement, the Howard Government has decided to reward the forces of dictatorship by agreeing to prolong the trade benefits to textile bosses under the agreement," Tubner says.

SPARTECA was signed 13 years ago to assist Pacific Islands increased their standard of living specifically by allowing those nations to import textiles and garments into Australia without attracting tariffs.

Along with the establishment of a Free Trade Zone, the agreement has allowed Fiji to create a strong textile industry employing an estimated 20,000 on the back of a workforce paid just $1.20 per hour - half the minimum award rate in the rest of the nation.

Chaudhury's promise to remove the Free Trade Zone and his reticence in extending SPARTECA are seen as one of the factors that turned powerful business interests against his government.

Tubner is particularly critical of Australian companies operating in Fiji saying they had been vocal opponents of sanctions, but big supporters of the Howard government's 'kids gloves' approach to the crisis.

"Cheap clothing does not go hand in hand with democracy," Tubner says, "it just goes hand in hand with exploitation."

The Labor Council has called on the Howard Government to immediately cease its extension of the SPARTECA Agreement until both of the following conditions are met:

- Democracy is restored in Fiji; and

- In accordance with earlier commitments of the democratically elected Chaudhury Government, the wages and conditions of Fijian workers currently exploited in the Fijian 'Free Trade Zones' are brought into line with the legal minimum wages and conditions of all other Fijian workers.

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Issue 63 contents

Interview: Paul Keating's Big Picture
The former Prime Minister is still painting on a broad canvass. He talks to Workers Online about the new economy, fair trade and political chi.

Unions: War in the West
Only six months after signing individual staff contracts, the gloss has worn off for some of BHP's Pilbara iron ore workers.

Environment: Farmers Fudge DNA Dangers
Farmers have missed the chance to have a meaningful debate into the use of genetically modified crops.

International: 'Dot Union' Proposal on the Table
ICANN, the global governing body of Internet domains, has released the following expression of interest in proposing a top-level domain for trade unions

Economics: Edge of the Abyss
Political economist Frank Stilwell argues that a constellation of events gives good reason to be worried about the Australian economy.

History: Taming the Tigers
Prominent labour historian, Dr Ming Chan, is visiting Australia to report on how workers are faring in the new Hong Kong.

Review: Music is Crap
It's already the second half of the first year in the new millenium. Who would have ever predicted a crisis in the popular music industry when we are at such an advanced stage ?

Satire: Last Kosovars Found Behind Couch
State Emergency Services personnel were called to a house in Brighton this morning, where the last five remaining Kosovar refugees have been found wedged behind a couch.

» Unions Lead Ethical Investment Push

» Surfing Good for Productivity - Management Experts

» Third World Conditions For Rural Workers

» Downer's Fiji Muddle Deepens

» Hotel Worker Survey Questions Olympics Preparation

» BHP Holds Gun to Kembla's Head

» A Burning Issue as Joy Campaign Goes National

» Garbos Forced to Ditch Early Start

» Telstra - Making it Sleazier For You

» Inquiry Blows Lid on Long Distance Trucking

» Cab Company Highlights Labor Hire Quandry

» What Olympics Jobs? Asks the AWU

» Republican Elections Called for August

» STOP PRESS: Landmark Legal Ruling on Asbestos