A Fiji election candidate and former trade unionist, Attar Singh, is welcoming the announcement of an International Labour Organisation mission to Fiji, but is disappointed it will be after September's elections.
The Direct Contacts Mission will visit in October to investigate claims of violations of workers rights following complaints laid by the Fiji Trades Union Congress.
Attar Singh says it's unfortunate the regime will only accept a mission after the general election and that's why he is running as a candidate.
"The ILO and the international community should have been able to put more pressure on the regime to bring about changes before this. Had that happened some of us probably would have stayed with the unions. But now we saw no success in the process, we had to take this option and do this."
Attar Singh, who is with the National Federation Party, says he is campaigning to reform labour laws in Fiji.
Fiji election candidate and former trade unionist, Attar Singh. Photo: RNZI / Sally Round