The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Mr Jone Usamate recently met with the public in the Western Division to hear firsthand labour related grievances.
Minister Usamate travelled to Sigatoka and Nadi to address issues raised by the public which included the arrears of wages, unfair dismissal, injuries sustained during working hours, non-existence of contracts of service, non-deduction of FNPF, unpaid allowances, foreign employment, foreign employment agencies, failure of employers to attend mediation and non-existence of grievance procedures.
This initiative by the Labour Ministry is in line with government’s commitment towards an open door policy and making the Ministry’s services more accessible to the public.
Minister Usamate said this approach encourages people to raise their grievances and issues with the Ministry without any hesitation or fear.
“At times workers are not keen to raise their grievances and exploitation at the workplaces with the Ministry in the fear of being terminated or being further victimized. From this Road Show we want to assure the members of the public that their grievances are our priority and we are here to resolve them and provide social justice to those who are being abused and deprived of their employment rights,” he said.
Various queries on terms and conditions of employment and employment rights, OHS and Workers Compensation were received and addressed with optimum advice provided by the Minister and team during the sessions.
Cases which cannot be resolved during these sessions and require in-depth information through proper investigations have been recorded and will be processed according to the Ministry’s procedures and grieved workers will be advised within a time frame of two months.
Mr Usamate affirmed that employers who have abused the rights of their workers and consequently breached the provisions of the Employment Relations Promulgation (ERP 2007) will be taken to task. Investigations will also be conducted on breaches of OHS and other Labour laws.
Following consultations in other parts of the western division, the Ministry is expected to conduct similar meetings in the central division.
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