Workers urged not MOU to benefit seafarers to be complacent
The COVID-19 pandemic taught the Fijian workforce to expect the unexpected, says Employment Minister Parveen Kumar.
“Today, through this World Day for Safety and Health at Work we are ensuring that workers and employers are aware that workplace accidents and diseases will be caused by various means and prevention strategies should be in place to anticipate and mitigate them,” Mr Kumar said.
“Moving forward, we must not be complacent.
“We must maintain our discipline, surveillance, and leadership. Pandemics have an ugly habit of resurfacing and causing massive damage when we let down our guard.”
The minister, who officiated at the World OHS Day celebrations in Lautoka yesterday, said the Government did not ignore its responsibility during the pandemic and put in place relevant and focused fiscal and monetary policies to assist in economic recovery.
He said the Government also undertook various legislative reforms to facilitate resilience and quick recovery.
Mr Kumar said the undeniable right to life of a worker, freedom to decent work and the respect for these liberties were foundational principles to any progressive nation like Fiji.
“However, increasing globalisation comes with many diverse workplace hazards and risks to health and safety. For workers, that is attributed to technologies, processes, hazardous substances, and global pandemics such as COVID-19.”
More than 50 OHS representatives from various organisations were part of the annual celebrations in Lautoka.
A MEMORANDUM of understanding (MOU) was signed on the mutual recognition of seafarer certificates between Korea and Fiji at the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) headquarters at the Kadavu House in Suva on Thursday.
Speaking at the signing Minister for Transport Faiyaz Koya said the MOU formalised and deepened the partnership between MSAF and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries for the Republic of Korea.
“For years we have actually directed focus and expertise on fostering international involvement in the areas of maritime, training and education,” Mr Koya said.
“This has been through the recognition of certifications for competency of seafarers.
“The MOU will actually give recognition to seafarers holding certificates and competency issued as per the STCW convention and serving onboard ships flying the flag of the other country.
“It simply means that Fiji will recognise Korean seafarers and the Republic of Korea will recognise the Fijian seafarers who are issued certificates pursued to the STCW convention.”
Mr Koya said Fiji had signed seven MOUs with countries for mutual recognition of marine qualification annual maritime certificates and Korea being the eighth.
“We will continue to strive to build a strong partnership that allow Fijian seafarers to work as part of the international global supply chain.
Korean Ambassador Park Young-kyu said he hoped the signing of the MOU would boost Korean seafarers’ activity in Fiji and contribute to the development of Fiji’s fisheries.
“The signing will pave way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers,” he said.
“This will also facilitate the current practices and offer broader opportunities for seafarers from both countries to work on Fijians ships or those of Korea.”
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