Ex-Vatukoula Gold Mine Families to Receive $25,000 Compensation

The Government has confirmed that eligible families of former Vatukoula Gold Mines Ltd workers will receive $25,000 in compensation, following the completion of required legal processes.

The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Permanent Secretary Maritino Nemani confirmed that the payments were being processed.

Mr Nemani said the payment is part of the government support for families of former gold miners who were exposed to hazardous working conditions during their employment many years ago.

He said workers who were still alive had already received their compensation, while payments to the next of kin of deceased workers must go through the High Court probate process before funds 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,” Mr Nemani said.

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

Mr Nemani said there are more than 100 other applications still awaiting probate clearance, and once the process is completed, their $25,000 payments will be processed.

Mr Nemani, a former Fiji national football captain, now serves as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations. Since taking up the role, he has played a key part in advancing labour reforms and overseeing compensation processes linked to historic industrial disputes.

He said the ministry is working with the Legal Aid Commission to assist families in completing probate documentation, as payments are legally tied to deceased estates.

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

The Vatukoula dispute is widely recognised as the longest-running strike in the world, lasting more than two decades and affecting generations of workers and their families.