The public service sector is seeing an increase in the demand for emergency services due to frequent natural disasters, says Ministry of Employment technical officer higher grade Rosalia Valeova.
While presenting at the Fiji Public Service Association climate change capacity building and FPSA strategic plan consultant workshop in Suva recently, Ms Valeova said the risks and hazards associated with environmental degradation tend to affect vulnerable workers.
“Public services are seeing high demand for emergency responses due to more frequent natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods so we see a lot more healthcare workers, NGO staff out there helping in the field when there’s a natural disaster,” she said.
“The provision of safe, healthy, and decent working conditions relies on the absence of environmental hazards and the maintenance of environmental stability.”
She said exposure to poor water and air quality could potentially result in first responder civil servants contracting illnesses.
“Food contamination leads to high risk of cancer; heat waves also affect a lot of outdoor workers.”
She said job displacements from climate impacts could require public employment programs or job retraining.
“A lot of these climate change issues affect human beings.”
She said the public services sector needed to invest in health safety training.
