THE Nasau Community on Koro Island have used the opportunity by presented by Minister for Labour Mr Jone Usamate’s road show to raise their employment queries and grievances in a community meeting held on Monday.
The community sought clarifications on rights and rate of pay of casual workers, Fiji National Provident Fund deductions, unemployment, Wages Regulations Orders, and contracts of service, foreign employment services and other conditions of employment.
Nasau village, 56-year-old retired schoolteacher Mr Inia Veileqe said the issues clarified by the Minister and his team had greatly assisted them to understand the labour law provisions and its benefits to the workers more thoroughly.
Mr Usamate said the labour laws are designed to protect workers from abuse, discrimination and unfair treatment while also promoting the principle of good-faith relationships between employers and workers.
“It is important for Occupational Health and Safety and Labour Management Consultation Committees to be established in organizations as it allows workers and employers to engage in active-positive dialogue on a regular basis. This creates a relationship between workers and employers where safety, wage rates, employment rights and productivity is not achieved through conflict but is based on the foundation of good faith,” Mr Usamate said.
During the consultation, the team also received and clarified queries on the application of certain provisions of the 2013 Constitution.
“We thank the Minister for clarifying the provisions on National Identity and i-Taukei land. We had not been able to fully grasp the applications of these provisions, but now, with this precise explanation, we understand and appreciate the provisions set out in the Constitution for us,” another Nasau villager Mr Sakaraia Koroi said.
Mr Usamate said as a result of the road shows undertaken by the Ministry around the country since last year, they have seen an urgent need to establish a networking system where Divisional, District and Provincial Officers stationed in the rural areas can become Ministry’s focal points to address employment related issues in their respective districts.
“The Ministry will hold a workshop by the end of this month to train these officers to work in collaboration with the Ministry to address child labour issues, employment grievances and complaints raised by workers or stakeholders in these various divisions,” the Minister said.
Mr Usamate said this is part of Government’s effort towards the development of rural areas, so that they have access to all necessary amenities and Government services.
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