ANISH CHAND
23 April, 2021, 6:30 pm
A journalist who lost a tooth and fractured another when a soccer ball hit his face was among those who received payouts from the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF).
The ACCF said in a presentation to the Fiji Trades Union Congress meeting recently that this was a work-related injury.
“The worker was a journalist and while taking pictures at a soccer tournament a ball hit his camera which hit his mouth causing injuries,” said the ACCF.
The $6000 payout was for missing front middle tooth and fracture of another tooth.
The ACCF received 1121 applications for injury claims and approved payments for 148 that amounted to $1.35 million.
Wanshika Kumar
National Workers Union general secretary Felix Anthony in Suva. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA/FILE
FIJI Trades Union Congress (FTUC) national secretary Felix Anthony says unions should not pay the Supervisor of Elections office when union elections are conducted.
He said this was decided at a recent FTUC national council meeting.
“That office should be funded by the Government, the National Budget and it is up to the Supervisor of Elections office, the Electoral Commission, to ensure that the budgets allocated to the Supervisor of Elections office is sufficient to carry out its functions,” he said.
Mr Anthony said under new laws proposed by Government, the SOE’s office was required to supervise union elections, with unions to fork out costs.
Fred Wesley
Image: THE FIJI TIMES
Bula vinaka
Here’s a look at some of the headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Saturday, April 10.
The lead story on
FICAC prosecutions
THE United States Department of State claims some high profile Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) prosecutions could be viewed as politically motivated. In its 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Fiji, the US State Department said Fijian law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials but Government did not implement the law effectively.
PAGE 2
Autism awareness
ENCOURAGE their strengths, celebrate their achievements and improve their weaknesses. This was the message from Suva Retailers Association president Jitesh Patel during the Autism Awareness Day celebration at Suva Special School yesterday.
Wanshika Kumar
National Workers Union general secretary Felix Anthony in Suva. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA/FILE
FIJI Trades Union Congress (FTUC) national secretary Felix Anthony has called on Government to review its decision on the Labour Day march and allow workers the right to assemble and march on May 1.
“The Fiji Trades Union Congress had lodged an application for a permit to march which has again been denied by police, with no written reason given,” he said.
“The reason given verbally was that there was concern about the pandemic. We, of course, do not believe this excuse as there are no restrictions in any gatherings including sports and other recreational activities.
FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony. [image: file]
Police have denied permit application for the Fiji Trades Union Congress to march and hold a rally in Suva on 1st May.
FTUC National Secretary, Felix Anthony says no written reason was given.
Anthony says the reason given verbally was that there was concern about the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says they do not believe this excuse as sports and other recreational activities continue in the country.
Anthony claims this is purely a political decision and this is the sixth occasion where a permit to march has been denied.
He says they condemn this decision to deny workers their fundamental right to assembly and to protest.