Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh expressed his satisfaction at the resolution of the lengthy Vatukoula Gold miners’ strike following yesterday’s national budget announcement in Parliament. The dispute, which started almost 40 years ago, ended positively for the miners as the Government decided to increase the minimum wage rate and civil service pay. Mr. Singh reiterated that the settlement was achieved through due process and consultations.
Commenting on the fact that the wages for ten different sectors will also be raised, the Minister added, “We are particularly happy for the Vatukoula miners, whom I first met in April this year. They were sceptical because they waited 33 years for action to be taken. However, I assured them then that we were committed to finding a solution and ending this dispute.”
The deal’s success was credited, by the former unionist, to Felix Anthony, the national secretary of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, who assisted with the negotiations. As part of the agreement, the miners’ families will receive $25,000 – $10,000 this year and a further $15,000 next year.
In further discussions, Mr. Singh plans to meet with the executives of the Vatukoula Miners Union next week in Lautoka to work out the details of the matter.