A delegation from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was ordered to leave Fiji on September 19.

This suggest a dangerous escalation of the Fijian regime’s contempt for worker rights and must be condemned in the strongest terms, states the Australian Federation of Trade Unions (ACTU) in a press release.

The incident came after an abrupt end to a meeting between the ILO and a Fijian government minister confirmed unions’ serious concerns with the Bainimarama regime’s ongoing disregard for human rights. The ACTU is calling on the Australian government to demand Fiji explain this latest action, which flies in the face of Fiji's recent publicly stated commitments to a return to democracy.

The ILO mission, headed by a judge from the International Court of Justice, arrived in Fiji and was scheduled to attend a number of meetings with the government and civil society, including the Fiji Trade Union Congress. But the ACTU has received reports that no formal meetings took place before the mission was told to leave the country.

Read the full press release from ACTU.