Workplace stress is killing people – Goundar

Stress is a silent killer in the workplace, yet it is rarely recognised as a hazard, and stress-related conditions and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are claiming the lives of too many young Fijians.

Fiji Trades Union Congress General Treasurer Muniappa Goundar revealed this at the Central Division World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebration at the Suva Civic Centre.

He says the workplace must be a safe environment, and if it is not, then it becomes an accident scene — a place where injuries can occur and lives may be, or are, lost.

Goundar says as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Board members, the FTUC regularly receives data on workplace accidents, fatalities, and compensation costs, which reinforces the urgent need for safer working conditions.

He says that, as a union representative, he would like to know of good practices where a worker's mental health is supported through company policies or structures

Goundar says they have also called on the government to focus on the mining industry, highlighting the need for regular inspections of mines to ensure compliance with OHS practices.

He says ILO standards promote work-life balance, and the FTUC campaigns for decent jobs with decent wages.

He also pointed out that Fiji is currently losing workers to overseas opportunities, and that a fixed pay scale with occasional increases every few years is not enough to retain them in the country.

He says people want to buy cars, houses, and enjoy the luxuries of life, such as good food and entertainment, which cannot be sustained by a basic pay scale alone.

He adds that many often resort to drugs and robbery, making workplaces unsafe and placing additional pressure on both the workforce and the judiciary.