Intraco security workers issue 30-day strike notice

By Vourie Molivakoro.

Twelve security workers employed by Intraco Pacific Trading Company Limited in Port Vila have issued a 30-day strike notice over alleged unpaid public holiday entitlements, severance payments and overtime.

The Vanuatu National Workers Union (VNWU) confirmed that the notice was issued on September 7 and submitted to the Commissioner of Labour and the company’s managing director in accordance with Section 33A of the amended Trade Disputes Act [CAP 162]. The 30-day notice period has since expired.

The union warned that the workers could take industrial action if the dispute is not resolved within 30 days and intervention by the Department of Labour and Employment Services (DoLES) fails to secure an acceptable outcome.

The union said that although the workers did not sign employment contracts, Intraco paid them fortnightly in cash and provided payslips as evidence of their employment.

The workers are seeking payment of their outstanding entitlements, including public holiday payments, severance and overtime.

Commissioner of Labour James Willie said he could not comment on the matter at this stage until the DoLES had assessed the situation.

Documents show that conciliation proceedings were previously undertaken to address an employment dispute involving the union and Bourgeois & Co Ltd, identified in an August 2026 Memorandum of Conciliation (MOC) as the workers’ former employer.

The memorandum outlined discussions concerning alleged unpaid overtime, hours worked by the affected employees, payments already made by the former employer and any outstanding balances.

The conciliation process was intended to allow both parties to present their positions and work towards a fair and mutually acceptable settlement.

It also stated that the process would not constitute a full and final settlement unless both parties expressly agreed that all outstanding matters had been resolved.

However, the MOC was signed by the workers’ union and the Department of Labour but did not Intraco or the employer.

Meanwhile, VNWU Southern Region Secretary General, Eddy Karie, said workers must stand up for their rights, including their right to take industrial action.

“This country needs us to fight for our rights, and the right to industrial action is a human right,” he said.

He said workers had a duty and responsibility to defend the rights they had struggled to achieve.

The 30-day notice provides an opportunity for the parties to resolve the dispute before the workers proceed with industrial action.

The Daily Post has made efforts to contact the owner of Intraco for comment but was unsuccessful prior to print