Fiji Civil Service Mediation Workshop

OVER the years prior to labour reforms, workers had limited access to professional institutions to resolve employment issues such as dismissals, discrimination, etcetera, unless they were represented by a trade union.

Permanent secretary for the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Salaseini Daunabuna said this had now changed under the Employment Relations Act.

In her address at the opening of the mediation workshop organised by the Singapore mediation centre at the Holiday Inn in Suva today, Ms Daunabuna said all workers could now individually engage the mediation services free of charge to address their grievances.

A total of 21 ministry staff will undergo the training.

Senior counsel mediator George Lim said after the conclusion of the training, each participant would go through an assessment.

“Each of them will have to do a mock mediation for one hour. They will be video-taped and the tapes will be sent back to Singapore for assessing so it will be a very transparent process,” Mr Lim said.

The workshop ends on Thursday.