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Commercial Law Updates

UPDATE - Workmen's Compensation (Repeal) Act 2018 is now in effect

Jan 8, 2019 / by Mary Muir posted in Insurance law Fiji, Accident in Fiji, Fiji commercial law, Commercial law Fiji, Fiji commercial lawyers, personal injury Fiji, accident and compensation Fiji

 On Christmas Eve, 2018, the Fiji Government Gazette published a notice of commencement for the Workmen’s Compensation (Repeal) Act 2018, along with an amendment to the Schedule for the Accident Compensation Act adding accidents arising out of and in the course of employment and accidents occurring on school premises or during school events to those covered by the Accident Compensation Act.

In July 2018 we provided an update on the Workmen's Compensation (Repeal) Act which can be found here - this update explained how it would work but it is important for employers and schools to understand the legal implications of the new Act and Regulations.

In this commercial law update we provide a brief update on the effect of the new law and regulations.

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Fiji Employment Law Update: recent changes employers in Fiji should prepare for

Jul 19, 2018 / by Ana Tuiwawa and Seini Tinaikoro posted in Fiji employment law, Fiji commercial law, Fiji lawyers, Fiji commercial lawyers

The budget announcement on 28 June 2018 saw a number of budget amendment bills amending a number of existing legislation. This employment law update will focus on Bill No.21 of 2018, currently cited as the Employment Relations (Budget Amendment) Act 2018 (“amendment Act”), one out of the fourteen consequential bills that will give effect to the 2018/2019 national budget.

Bill No.21 of 2018 was enacted in Parliament on 12 July 2018, and saw the inclusion of Family care leave and Parental leave provisions in the current Employment Relations Act 2007 (“Act”). The amendments suggest Government’s intentions of supporting working parents and promoting work life balance into Fiji’s current work force.

The amendment Act, is not yet in force, and in this commercial law update we set out what Fiji employers should prepare for now as it seems likely that the amendment Act will be brought into force imminently. In accordance with the usual principles of Fiji employment law, the Act sets out minimum statutory standards that all Fiji employers may exceed but may not fall below.

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What is the effect of Fiji’s Online Safety Act, 2018?

Jul 9, 2018 / by Mary Muir and Emily Samuela posted in Fiji's Constitution, Fiji law, Fiji commercial law, Commercial lawyers Fiji, Online Safety Act Fiji, Cyber security Fiji

Connectivity has made the access to information easier in this modern age, but it has also led to the increase in harmful online behavior such as cyberbullying, cyber stalking, internet trolling and exposure to offensive or harmful content, amongst other things. After much debate, Fiji has introduced the Online Safety Act, 2018 (the “Act”) to promote online safety and deter adverse online behavior and misuse of personal information. While it was enacted on 18 May 2018, it will not come into effect until the commencement date is gazetted.

At the date of writing the Online Safety Act has not appeared in the Fiji Government Gazette and therefore the legislation is not, as yet, in force. We will amend this update when it is “gazetted”.

In this commercial law update, we consider how this newly-introduced Act is intended to work.

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Fiji Construction Law Series: Outline of Common Areas of Risk in Construction Contracts

Apr 13, 2018 / by Atu Siwatibau posted in Fiji commercial law, Commercial law Fiji, Fiji contract law, Construction law Fiji, Commercial lawyers Fiji, Fiji risk allocation, Fiji lawyers, Construction contract checklist

Each construction contract has its own different areas of risk.

In this commercial law update, we consider only the general areas in which risks can arise and need to be managed in a construction contract.

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Fiji Construction Law Series: How Do You Allocate Risk in a Commercial Contract?

Apr 6, 2018 / by Atu Siwatibau posted in Fiji commercial law, Commercial law Fiji, Fiji contract law, Fiji construction contracts, Construction law Fiji, Fiji due diligence, Commercial lawyers Fiji, Fiji freedom of contract, Fiji risk allocation

Risk Allocation

This commercial law update looks at the principles behind efficient risk allocation in a contract and how, a lack of understanding of these principles, might lead to unintended consequences.

Every contract is essentially a sharing or allocation of risk, responsibility, and reward between the parties. It is not sufficient for commercial lawyers to rely on template contracts or checklists because to understand and assist with a commercial transaction requires an understanding of the risks involved. A thorough understanding of risk will assist with the provision of informed legal advice and a contract that may avoid, reduce or fairly allocate risk.

This legal update considers the key questions that arise in terms of the allocation of risk: how should the risks be shared? Is there an efficient way of sharing risk? What considerations should be taken into account when deciding which party should take on which risk in a contract?

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