Ministry and ILO seek to assist employers with PPEs

The Minister for Employment, Parveen Bala, confirmed that there has been talk to subsidise Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The statement was made as response to queries from small business owners of essential services. “We do not know when the pandemic will end and what the new normal will be like.

“Will we continue to wear PPEs and how do we help employers maintain that health safety.”

The ministry has been in talks with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to set up a system to assist employers with equipment and gear needed.

ILO in partnership with the ministry has come up with a programme to help employers supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to their workers.

Details of what this programme will entail is yet to be finalised.

ILO Fiji National Programme Officer Surkafa Katafono said: “Personal

Protective Equipment (PPE) will be issued to survey teams. Talks are currently on who will pay for these. The results of the assessment are expected by the end of June and will be shared with the UN Socio-economic assessment team and the Ministry of Industry and Trade team.”

New Projects

Mr Bala said they would soon be introducing a recognition award and will be finalising their five-year plan.

“I am pleased to announce we will be introducing a recognition award to those workplaces that show compliance and commitment towards COVID-19 preventions. On a related note, we are finalising a five-year National Occupational Health and Service Plan (2020-2024) to be launched later this year.”

He said there has been a lot of focus on the safety side of OHS and he hopes to work closely with the Ministry of Health to highlight the health aspect.