Following the successful completion of the Papua New Guinea Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Reform Bill by Fiji’s Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, an extension on the technical assistance provided by the Ministry was signed this week in Suva.
This is the 4th extension of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2011, between the two countries through the South-South Cooperation.
Under this extension, the Ministry commits to provide technical assistance in three phases between May 2015 to May 2016. Phase 1 involves the facilitation in the passage of the OSH Bill within the PNG Government, while Phase 2 involves the organisational set-up of the OSH programme through technical assistance from the Ministry of Employment with the cooperation of the PNG Government. Phase 3 involves capacity building of the PNG OSH Inspectorate on the new OSH management system including the implementation process of the new OSH Bill.
The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Hon Jioji K Konrote while delivering his address at the signing ceremony highlighted that this latest development will ensure PNG’s policy, laws, values, institutions and practices on OSH are modernised to adequately provide the people and workplaces of PNG the much needed social protection and better OSH standards, underpinned by a stronger OSH Inspectorate.
Hon Konrote said the signing signifies the strong spirit of regional cooperation and aspirations between the two Governments and their people.
He reiterated the Fijian Government’s resolute commitment towards providing necessary technical expertise to achieve the desired outcomes as committed in the MOU.
PRESS RELEASE