Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Jone Usamate yesterday met the University of the South Pacific (USP) Staff Union for a talanoa session on creating good industrial relations with key stakeholders.

The USP Staff Union that commenced establishment in 1974 is still operational and currently has about 400 union members.

The USP Staff Union caters for hourly paid staff and Intermediate and junior unestablished staff.

USP Union President, Reuben Colata thanked Minister Usamate for making time to visit them and to listen to their concerns.

Litiana Waqalevu, who is now serving her 13th year as the USP Union Secretary, highlighted that the Minister’s visit was a timely one due to the number of employment issues they raised and at the same time the union was seeking the Ministry’s advice on certain matters.

Mr Usamate also heard issues relating to occupational health and safety, worker’s compensation, overtime, hours of work and collective agreements.

Mr Usamate highlighted that under the reformed Employment Relations Act 2007 there has been no record of lockouts and strikes during the past eight years which indicates good employment relations in Fiji’s labour market.

Mr Usamate wishes to urge all Union bodies to request awareness and training on the Employment Relations Act and other employment related legislations from the Ministry for better understanding of the law and its implementation.