FORMER Vatukoula Gold Miners Union president Josefa Sadreu is calling for an immediate change to the country’s mining and workers’ rights laws.
Mr Sadreu says while the mining industry falls within the industrial and manufacturing sector, miners are more exposed to workplace risks that need to be protected by proper legislation.
“We don’t have to have another strike that took this long,” said Mr Sadreu.
“Our strike started because we were not being protected, and we were not being given what we were owed.
“If the Government and the employers listened to the workers in the first place, we would not have waited this long.”
Mr Sadreu said the current Mining Act also needed to be changed.
“It has to hold mining companies accountable to their workers. Yes, there are many risks, but without people willing to take those risks, you won’t have a company. So, you must look after these workers.”
He said the union was especially looking forward to the endorsement of the draft Work Care Bill 2024 by the Coalition Government.
“This Bill will protect workers, especially those working in high-risk environments like the mining industry.”
Mr Sadreu said the current administration needed another term to ensure its work in these areas was completed.
“We have so many issues that will take years to address.
“We need this Government to return so that they can continue with the work they have done, especially in this area.”