Issue No: 786; 23 May 2001

These comments were made by High Chief and former judge, Justice Joni Madraiwiwi while launching the new documentary by award winning film maker Atu Bain. Bain is also a Fiji Labour Party senator. The film, In the Name of Growth, portrays the struggle of women workers in the fishing industry in Levuka.

Ratu Joni stated that that the film portrays the "negative aspects of the obsession with economic growth at all costs. The dictatorial attitudes of management, unattractive working conditions, low wages, illnesses and low morale are some of those shown".

Ratu Joni further stated: "One has to admire their dignity and strength as well as wonder about the politicians who bleat constantly about indigenous rights. Yet they do little about the plight of these very women whose cause they ought to champion."

Ratu Joni compared the workers at the fish factory in Levuka with the workers at the gold mine in Vatukoula, who have "had little support from other unions and civil society groups".

Meanwhile the Chiefs from Ovalau Island, which hosts the fish canning factory are insisting that something be done to improve the conditions of employment for their women working at the government-owned PAFCO cannery. Their calls come in the wake of a documentary film about the operations of the Levuka cannery that was premiered in the old capital last week. Thousands attended the nine free public screenings

Ratu mai Bureta, Ratu Qavo, said that the film had revealed the hardship faced by the women of the island who are employed in the cannery. "The chiefs have always regarded the women as the weaker sex and we didn't realise how things really were because we are always in the villages and have not seen how hard our women really work."

Another chief, Nayavulagilagi Qalovi said "what really touched me deeply tonight is seeing how hard our women work, the small amount of money they get as wages, and hearing them explain things and how nothing has been done. Something should have been done. Our women should not be abused in this way." He said that he felt hurt to see the hard way the women have been driven at work. "It is painful to know the way our women in Ovalau have been treated, and also other women from around Fiji. The government of Fiji runs this company which makes money for the government, but the money the women get is really pitiful."