Government has announced compensation for four workers who died in work-related accidents so far this year.

The family of Ilisoni Nate, 31, has been awarded $50,000. Mr Nate, an employee of Go Advertising, died on March 23 while he was working on a billboard along Edinburgh Drive in Suva.

He was rushed to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital by National Fire Authority officers and Police but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The family of welder Malakai Sesei is waiting to receive $44,570.24. Mr Sesei, an employee of Triteck Welding Works, was electrocuted on January 26.

The compensation amount for Vilive Nayabo of Nalawa, Ra, andFloyd William, of Matasawalevu, Dreketi, Vanua Levu, is still being worked out.

Mr Nayabo died after suffering massive electric shock at Natabua, Lautoka, on February 28. He was repairing the broken power lines after Tropical Cyclone Winston when the incident happened.

He was an employee of the Suva-based sub-contractor Power Electric Limited.

Mr William, 29, died at the bauxite mining site of Xinfa Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited at Matasawalevu in Dreketi.

He was crushed by a conveyor belt carrying soil containing bauxite.

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Semi Koroilavesau said 532 workers were injured at work during the same period.

He said they received 897 complaints against employers.

These cases have been recorded by the ministry from January 1 till May 19.

Mr Koroilavesau said the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Service has received approximately 50 complaints related to health and safety issues at the workplace for 2016.

“One of the main issues relate to not being provided personal protective equipment by the employer,” Mr Koroilavesau said.

Other complaints range from non-payment of wages, annual leave, sick leave and arrears of wages.

Mr Koroilavesau said the ministry had recovered $134,235.70 from these complaints. The money was paid back to workers. The ministry also conducted 1091 spot checks on employers to rectify the problems.

He said: “Workers have the right to lodge their complaints directly to our ministry if their matter is not resolved internally while they are employed with their employer. If workers are terminated from employment, they can lodge complaint directly to the ministry.”

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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