The Ministry of Employment has accepted an action plan from the Suva City Council to begin the removal process for the building materials found containing asbestos in the Suva Civic Centre.
The Ministry says the New Zealand specialist contracting firm, Contract Environmental, has started the removal process.
The removal process will be supervised by the Ministry and will not present any threat to the general public.
The Suva Civic Centre and the immediate vicinity of the Town Hall Road entrance to the Centre will remain closed throughout the removal process.
There will be no other restrictions on movement in place or directives for the closure of any schools, business houses or public buildings.
The Ministry will work closely with Contract Environmental, the Department of Environment and the Suva City Council to properly dispose of the materials found to contain asbestos, in line with international best practice.
The Ministry says that also in line with international best practice, air tests will be conducted regularly throughout the removal process.
The air tests will be conducted by Pacifica Environmental Services on the interior and exterior of the Suva Civic Centre.
Air tests previously taken at the site have been reviewed by the World Health Organisation.
The World Health Organisation has determined that the citizens of Suva City are not likely to be exposed to the harmful effects of asbestos fibres.
