Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has announced that 368 families of Vatukoula mine workers, who have been on strike since 1991, will soon receive compensation payouts.
Of these families, 185 will receive their compensation in August, while the remaining families will need further legal processing.
Minister Singh expressed gratitude to the President of the Vatukoula Mine Workers Union, Joseve Sadreu, for organizing the meeting on short notice and thanked those in attendance for meeting with him and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka over the weekend.
On behalf of the affected families, Sadreu expressed sincere gratitude to the Coalition Government for resolving this long-standing issue and bringing hope to these families after 33 years.
Minister Singh reiterated that the Coalition Government is the People’s government that listens to the people, and thereby brought closure to the plight of the Vatukoula Mine workers, which was long overdue.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka also acknowledged the commitment of the Minister for Employment and his entire senior management team and staff in concluding this long-pending matter.