Ohs Legislation in Fiji
Safety and health at work
The International Labour Organization places special importance on developing, implementing and applying a preventive safety and health culture in workplaces the world over. SafeWork, the ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment, aims to create worldwide awareness on the dimensions and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases; to place the health and safety of all workers on the international agenda; and to stimulate and support practical action at all levels.
In the Pacific Island countries, five of the eight member States of the ILO have national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) legislations. They are Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The remaining three member States – Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, are in the process of drafting and/or finalising their legislations. In addition, Fiji, PNG and Solomon Islands are collaborating national centres for OSH with the ILO International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS).
The increasing of international movement of Pacific Islanders under the Recognized Seasonal Employer schemes to New Zealand and a similar scheme for Australia has often left many migrant workers in vulnerable positions e.g. the lack of regulatory and social support mechanisms, precarious employment, frequent exposure to hazardous conditions and very often these workers have higher rates of injury and illness compared to non-migrant workers.
The safety and health conditions at work vary between Pacific Island countries, economic sectors, social and cultural groups. Deaths and injuries take a particularly heavy toll in Islands where a large part of the population is engaged in hazardous activities, such as agriculture, fishing and mining and the poorest and least protected who are often women, children and migrants are among the most affected.
The ILO Response
ILO Country Office for South Pacific Island
The International Labour Organization places special importance on developing, implementing and applying a preventive safety and health culture in workplaces the world over. SafeWork, the ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment, aims to create worldwide awareness on the dimensions and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases; to place the health and safety of all workers on the international agenda; and to stimulate and support practical action at all levels.
In the Pacific Island countries, five of the eight member States of the ILO have national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) legislations. They are Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The remaining three member States – Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, are in the process of drafting and/or finalising their legislations. In addition, Fiji, PNG and Solomon Islands are collaborating national centres for OSH with the ILO International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS).
The increasing of international movement of Pacific Islanders under the Recognized Seasonal Employer schemes to New Zealand and a similar scheme for Australia has often left many migrant workers in vulnerable positions e.g. the lack of regulatory and social support mechanisms, precarious employment, frequent exposure to hazardous conditions and very often these workers have higher rates of injury and illness compared to non-migrant workers.
The safety and health conditions at work vary between Pacific Island countries, economic sectors, social and cultural groups. Deaths and injuries take a particularly heavy toll in Islands where a large part of the population is engaged in hazardous activities, such as agriculture, fishing and mining and the poorest and least protected who are often women, children and migrants are among the most affected.
The ILO Response
ILO Country Office for South Pacific Island