BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
Solomon Islands trade union representatives attended a four-day training programme that aims to strengthen their skills in labour law and dispute resolution.
The workshop, held at Mendana Kitano from Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 July, was facilitated by Gayaal Iddamalgoda of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and Mererai Vatege of the Fiji Trade Union Congress and National Union of Workers (FTUC/NUW).
The training brought together participants from Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea who worked through a packed programme covering the full spectrum of industrial relations practice.
On the first day of the training, focus was on handling grievances and formal dispute reporting.
Meanwhile, day two catered to collective bargaining and negotiation tactics, featuring a hands-on Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) bargaining simulation.
Attention also shifted to mediation and conciliation, with sessions examining how Ministry of Labour processes work in practice.
The training wrapped up yesterday with a look at arbitration, tribunals and the courts, capped off by a mock unfair dismissal hearing that put participants’ new skills to the test.
Nilesh Sharma, Finance and Administration Officer, said the workshop was designed to help Solomon Islands bring its ageing labour laws in line with regional practice.
Facilitator Mererai Vatege, who serves as Fiji Trade Union Congress Youth Chair and Legal Officer for the National Union of Workers, said the interactive sessions gathered valuable feedback that will feed into a report to PICTU.
“This is expected to recommend further regional capacity-building initiatives and continued labour law reforms across the Pacific,” said Vatege.
The training was funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the International Trade Union Confederation Asia-Pacific (ITUC-AP) and the Pacific Islands Council of Trade Unions (PICTU).
Photo: Supplied
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
