SUVA, Fiji (PINA Nius) — Fiji’s garment industry says it has lost about F$10 million (US$4.308 million) a month since the political crisis last year.<\/p>\n
The figure represents one-third of total exports.<\/p>\n
If the trend continues for another two months, it would mean a loss of about F$120 million (US$ 51.696) for the first five months of the year.<\/p>\n
The Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Council of Fiji believes that more than 5,000 garment workers lost their jobs since the May coup.<\/p>\n
Council President Ranjit Solanki singled out trade bans as the biggest contributor to the downturn.<\/p>\n
He told trade unionists to “shut up” and to leave the commercial sector alone in these difficult times.<\/p>\n
“The threats by these people are uncalled for,” he said. “Overseas buyers are very nervous because of negative publicity by trade unions.”<\/p>\n
He said trade unions, especially the Fiji Trade Union Congress, have resumed from where coup leader George Speight left off last year.<\/p>\n
“They should realize this is the time to sit down and reconcile. We want stability in Fiji. If businesses do well, there will be jobs,” Mr. Solanki said.<\/p>\n
He said garment factories that closed recently were all owned by overseas companies. He said unskilled workers were the first to be laid off.<\/p>\n
Other factors contributing to the mass lay-offs include Australia\u2019s economic recession and the effects of the Sydney Olympics.<\/p>\n
Statistics from the Ministry of Labor reveal that more than 1,000 of the 6,452 workers who lost their jobs as of December 7 were from the garment industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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