Govt assures $25,000 compensation for all eligible ex-Vatukoula miners’ families

Government has assured that every eligible family of former Vatukoula Gold Mines Ltd workers will receive $25,000 in compensation.

Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Permanent Secretary, Maritino Nemani, revealed this yesterday.

He said the payout was part of the Government’s commitment to support families of former gold miners who suffered from long-term exposure to hazardous working conditions during their employment decades ago.

Mr Nemani said workers who were still alive had already been compensated, while the next of kin of those who had died must go through the High Court probate process before payments can be released.

“The delay is not with the payment. The delay is in the probate process, which must be completed through the High Court,” he said.

During his visit to Vatukoula two weeks ago, the ministry released 30 payments to families who had successfully completed the probate process.

“We distributed 30 payments to next of kin who had cleared their probate. There are more than 100 other applications still waiting for probate, and once that is completed, their $25,000 will be processed,” Mr Nemani said.

He said compensation for more than 100 families was pending because of incomplete documentation. To assist families, the ministry is working with the Legal Aid Commission.

Probate lodgement is necessary because payments are legally tied to deceased estates.

So far, 30 families have received their $25,000, while others are urged to complete their probate documentation to avoid further delays.