MPs Hear of Effectiveness of Mediation Services

Minister for Employment Jone Usamate while responding to MP Howard Politini’s question.

Mediation Services provided by the Ministry for Employment, Productivity and Employment Relations have been effective.

This was the advice of the Minister for Employment Jone Usamate while responding to MP Howard Politini’s question in Parliament yesterday.

Mr Usamate said the services have been effective in terms of trying to address issues brought up by employees through grievances or disputes that were brought up by the trade unions. He said in the past, a person could only raise grievances if he/she was a member of a trade union.

Mr Usamate said with this new legislation people could bring their issue to the ministry where the mediation services were used to resolve their issues.

In terms of statistics in areas of unfair dismissal brought to the mediation services, Mr Usamate said 87 per cent of cases were solved successfully, 64 per cent of disadvantaged cases and 87 per cent of unfair dismissal cases were mediated successfully.

He said in-terms of strikes or lockouts mediation was a tool used by the ministry at any time of a grievance and dispute.

“The ministry’s philosophy is that those who create the conflict should be held primarily responsible to resolve the conflict,” Mr Usamate said.

...services have been effective in terms of trying to address issues brought up by employees through grievances or disputes that were brought up by the trade unions. Jone Usamate Minister for Employment

Photo: Parliament of Fiji From left: Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, National Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Inia Seruiratu, with the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Jone Usamate outside Parliament on...