The Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) has written to the Prime Minister expressing alarm that the Council of Trade Unions unlawful trade ban on Fiji will further penalise investor and business confidence.

"The CTU is usurping the role of Government by imposing its trade ban on Fiji," said EMA's chief executive Alasdair Thompson. "We wholeheartedly endorse our Government's efforts to restore democratic Government to Fiji but stress this is the prerogative of Government and must not be compromised by actions like the CTU's.

"If a trade ban is considered to be in the interests of New Zealand, and useful to restore democracy in Fiji, we strongly affirm that only our Government acting on behalf of all New Zealanders, has the responsibility and right to impose such a trade embargo.

"We want the Prime Minister to appreciate that the CTU's unlawful trade ban is the sort of action the unions will be able to take regularly when the Employment Relations Bill is enacted.

"The CTU's willingness to break New Zealand law shows neither good faith nor responsibility. Business is seeing a further, plain signal how the unions will use their new and extended powers under the Employment Relations Bill.

"We fear the backlash against this lack of good faith will be a further substantial drop in investor confidence.

"We urged the Prime Minister to re-examine the new powers to be extended to unions and reconsider how they can be used to benefit a few people to the detriment of many other New Zealanders.

"The CTU trade ban is also selective and discriminatory, and will not have the outcome intended for it."

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