Union calls for action after worker injury
April 29, 2026 10:30 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Antoine Malsungai.
A construction worker employed by a Chinese company in Port Vila has suffered a serious workplace accident, raising concerns about occupational health and safety standards and the enforcement capacity of the Department of Labour (DoL).
The injured worker, a local builder and member of the Vanuatu National Workers Union (VNWU), sustained severe injuries to his left leg while carrying out duties at a construction site.
In his account, the accident occurred while he was using a grinder fitted with a blade to cut timber, an improvised method due to the company’s failure to provide proper equipment.
“I was using a grinder fitted with a blade to cut timber because the company did not provide a circular saw, which is the proper tool for the job. That was when the accident happened,” the worker said.
The worker’s medical report has since been submitted to the union’s office, and VNWU is now monitoring the case as it prepares further action.
This incident comes months after VNWU identified serious safety concerns at the same company. During an organising and registration drive across Port Vila in October last year, union representatives visited the company’s premises and reported multiple issues to the DoL.
VNWU representative Joe Harry Karu said the department did carry out an inspection after the concerns were raised. However, the recent accident has raised questions about the effectiveness of follow up enforcement.
“We are aware that the DoL visited the company after we raised concerns. But seven months later, an accident has occurred. The DoL must enforce strict compliance to protect workers,” Karu said.
In addition to safety concerns, VNWU has been pursuing a separate labour dispute involving overtime claims against the same employer.
The union formally filed for conciliation, but reports that the process has been delayed, with many cases still pending due to limited capacity within the department. In response to the latest incident, VNWU is preparing to file a compensation claim on behalf of the injured worker.
The union hopes the DoL will speed up the appointment of conciliators to deal with the growing backlog of disputes. The matter is expected to be a key item when VNWU’s newly elected executive meets for the first time.
Among its priorities will be addressing ongoing challenges within the labour dispute process. At the end of the meeting, VNWU is expected to formally call on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to recruit additional officers to strengthen the DoL.
The union argues that a shortage of staff, worsened by the recent departure of three officers, has hindered the department’s ability to respond to labour disputes and enforce workplace safety standards. VNWU is asking the PSC to urgently recruit new officers to deal with cases locally, as the current shortage is affecting the department’s ability to respond in a timely manner.
