Fiji: wages not the only issue – worker killed in mill accident

Low wages are not the only problem in Fiji’s sugar mills. At the end of July Samuela Sigatokacake was killed in a workplace accident at the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Lautoka mill.

Mr Sigatokacake suffered 60 percent burns in the accident. He was admitted to hospital but died three days later.

Investigations conducted at the mill concluded that the release valve on the pressure vessel that Mr Sigatokacake worked with had malfunctioned. FSGWU has raised safety concerns with management on many occasions but with little response from the FSC.  In order to ensure a full investigation, the union has lodged an official complaint with the police over the death