1. GOVERNMENT CONTINUES NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE BASELINE SURVEY FOR OTHER WORKERS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WAGES REGULATION ORDER (WRO) – Government through the Ministry of Labour will continue the second phase of the national minimum wage baseline survey of other workers not covered under the Wages Regulation Orders (WROs) but involved in Individual Bargaining (IB) between employers and workers.
2. MINISTRY PROVIDES HIV/AIDS AWARENESS WORKSHOP IN CAKAUDROVE – A three day workshop on HIV/AIDS recently held in Vanua Levu was well received by local communities including the youth that participated.
3. GOVERNMNENT TURNS FOCUS TO PEARL FARMING – Government’s continuous commitment towards the pearl oyster project demonstrates the growing contribution of this sector to Fiji’s socio economic status.
1 GOVERNMENT CONTINUES NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE BASELINE SURVEY FOR OTHER WORKERS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WAGES REGULATION ORDER (WRO)
Government through the Ministry of Labour will continue the second phase of the national minimum wage baseline survey of other workers not covered under the Wages Regulation Orders (WROs) but involved in Individual Bargaining (IB) between employers and workers.
The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment Mr Jone Usamate pointed out that the survey will be for domestic workers, caregivers, backyard garage workers, tailors, home pre-school teachers, car wash workers and etc.
The survey will begin tomorrow, the 7th of August 2013 in the central division beginning in Suva followed by Nasinu, Nausori. Surveys to be carried out in the Western and Northern Division will be conducted by the Ministry of Labour officers.
“This will result in the determination and introduction of a national minimum wage, the hourly rate below which all sectorial minimum wage rate must be allowed to fall,” Minister Usamate said.
The Minister said that the survey will assess the existing wage levels in Fiji’s labour market including conditions of employment in the context of the requirements under the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007 (ERP) against the backdrop of the economy.
This is in line with Government’s commitment under the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (PCCP) towards reducing poverty to a negligible level by 2015 and at the same enhancing productivity.
The Labour Ministry seeks the support and cooperation of employment providers in accomplishing this significant task that will propel out country forward to where both workers and employers fully benefit from the fruit of their labour.
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2 MINISTRY PROVIDES HIV/AIDS AWARENESS WORKSHOP IN CAKAUDROVE
A three day workshop on HIV/AIDS recently held in Vanua Levu was well received by local communities including the youth that participated.
Organised by the Ministry of Social Welfare, the workshop was aimed at raising awareness and basic precautionary measures against HIV/AIDS.
While the target participants were women and youth from nearby communities, organisers were pleased with the turnout from community leaders including men that participated.
The Ministry of Social Welfare permanent secretary Dr Josefa Koroivueta commended the contribution by other stakeholders for the assistance in making the event a success.
“The Department of Women aims to provide holistic awareness programs on health, women and economic development to the rural women and youths and to provide them with the adequate information and opportunities to generate discussions on the key pillars of development”.
“The Ministry is grateful to all our stakeholders particularly to the Ministry of Health for making presentations and steering discussions on issues like the causes and effects of HIV/AIDS, effects on the community and how the virus is contracted and ways it people can protect themselves from this virus,” he said.
Apart from addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS, the workshop also enabled the stakeholders like Ministry of Agriculture, Fiji Development Bank and women entrepreneurs to impart information on Land Management, Financial Literacy and Business Management.
“The participants also received information on developing effective business strategies from some of the successful business operators up in north. The workshop has been possible through a consolidated effort between the Ministry and its relevant stakeholders and we look forward for organizing similar workshops in other divisions as well,” Dr Koroivueta added.
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3 GOVERNMNENT TURNS FOCUS TO PEARL FARMING
Government’s continuous commitment towards the pearl oyster project demonstrates the growing contribution of this sector to Fiji’s socio economic status.
The Ministry of Fisheries permanent secretary Mr Inoke Wainiqolo said that pearl oyster project has a vision of being the leading producer and marketer of premium quality pearls and black pearl products in the Pacific region
“The overall strategic target is to promote and facilitate the sustainable development of a Cultured Pearl Industry that will contribute F$50 million or more to the National Domestic Product by year 2014 and thereafter,” Mr Wainiqolo said.
“Fiji has numerous suitable sites for pearl farming with rich in nutrients, open reef system with excellent environmental setting for pearl culture.
“These conditions boost the growth of oysters and pearls.”
The permanent secretary added that the type of work involved best suits rural or maritime communities with spat collection from the wild, collecting mother of pearl oysters, fishing, diving and cleaning of oysters which are available to both men and women in rural communities.
“The Fisheries Department is promoting spat collection program in villages to youth and women’s groups,” Mr Wainiqolo said.
“A community/village that is interested has to submit a letter address to the Principal Fisheries Officer (PFO) of their division indicating their interest in establishing spat collection farms.
The pearl industry has extended from three (3) commercial farms producing pearls in 2005 to seven (7) locally owned and two (2) foreign owned pearl farms to date.
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