BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
Malaita Province is seeking a way forward to form a labour union that will be responsible to voice issues and challenges faced by the workers in the province.
At the closing of a two-day workshop in Auki, Malaita Province, on Wednesday, June 17, Freda Kofana said the union will stand as a legal body for workers in the province, and all the workers will be registered under this body.
“We are thinking of forming a union that can raise issues faced by our workers, but how can we go about forming this union? Is there any possible way forward?” she asked.
In response, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Labour Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Labour, and Immigration, Damisulia O’ota, said it must be registered before it can become a legal body.
He said there is an act under the trade union in place for the registration of any organisation.
He explained that the union must meet the required documents for registration, including a form from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.
“We currently have an act, a law that comes under the trade union.
“So, before an organisation can be registered, it must meet all required documents, including a form from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development,” he said.
He said that after the union is fully registered, a copy of the registration must be given to the Labour Division, and the union must partner and affiliate with other unions in the country under one common body.
He said when a union is formed and any issues arise between the employers and the union, the Labour Division will remain neutral in the case.
“Reason why I am telling this is that when there is any issue arising between the union and the employer, we will always stay neutral and reluctant because the members are paying fees to the union.
“Also, this is because the union is registered under the Labour Division. So, when any issue arises, we will always be independent in the decision-making,” he said.
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