Kia orana ,
A major milestone has been achieved in the Cook Islands this week with
enactment of the Cook Islands Employment Relations Act 2012.
It is indeed worthy cause for celebration this festive season and the best
christmas season gifts for all workers in the Cook Islands. The milestone
legislation binds both crown employees and all workers in the private sector
and introduces new features in the Cook Islands employment arena with stronger
clauses on the: Freedom of Association rights for employees and employers;
collective agreements and individual agreements; discrimination, sexual and
racial harassments and duress; termination and redundancy; dispute
resolution process and more importantly a Government Funded Paid Maternity
Leave based on the minimum wage of 6-weeks for women in the private sector
workforce given that crown employees are already being covered by their
respective government employers. The new paid maternity leave comes into fo rce
from 1st January 2013 and this includes foreign workers however their employer
is responsible to pay for their 6-weeks maternity leave unlike private sector
women with Cook Islands nationality and permanent residency status will be
covered under the new government scheme for Paid Materntiy Leave.
The Employment relations Bill is one of the longest bill to be reviewed and
table in Parliament since 1996. The bill has gone through numerous
public consultations over the years is the outstanding and collective efforts
of the Cook Islands Workers Association and non-governmental organisations
and Chamber of Commerce in ensuring that modernised employment laws are put in
place to replace the very much archaic Cook Islands and Industrial and Labour
Ordinance 1964 to combat exploitation and discrimination of workers rights
and trade union rights. Although the new legislation does not reflect the
establishment of trade unions, it does however recognize the formation of
workers association and their employers counter part.
The Cook Islands Workers Association through PSI AP Fund managed to secure
funding to implement wider community consultation on the Bill before enactment
this week. This is one of CIWA's major project focus over the years and
its milestone achievement this week brings the National Executive to another
level of legislation awareness to its members on the mainland rarotonga and in
the outer islands.
On behalf of the Cook Islands Workers Association President Mr Anthony
Turua and its National Executive and Members, we would like to extend our
appreciation and gratitude to PSI for the utmost support in providing funding
for this very much worthy cause and welcomes everyone to celebrate our
achievement this festive season and the new year. Thank you also to
the PSI OSRAC Sub-regional Office for providing advice over the years and to
all affiliates in the region.
Warmest solidarity and festive seasons to you all.
Tuaine Maunga
GENERAL SECRETARY
Cook Islands Workers Association
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