Three public sector unions in Fiji have been threatened with de-registration if they stage a strike later this month in support of a 4 percent Cost of Living Adjustment.
The Daily Post reports the threat has been issued by the labour minister, Kenneth Zinck, who says the action would be taken on unions bent on crippling Fiji's economy.
Mr Zinck warns that once the unions are de-registered, their funds would be frozen, union officials would be investigated for de-stabilising the economy and workers who face the sack or disciplinary action would not be able to turn to his ministry for help.
But the Fiji Public Service Association, the Fiji Nurses Association and the Fiji Teachers Union are preparing to defy the government and are going ahead with preparations for a strike.
FPSA general secretary, Rajeshwar Singh, says the minister has no powers to de-register a union which only registrar of trade unions can do.
Mr Singh says they are prepared to face prosecution because they are complying with all provisions of the law and are conducting secret ballots for strike action.