The Fiji Mine Workers Union says it has reopened talks with the government about a 19-year strike at the Vatakoula gold mine.
The union's lawyer, Dr Shaista Shameem, has been told the strikers' case was seen as a humanitarian issue and that the Prime Minister's Office wanted to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
The president of the union, Josefa Sadreu, says the miners considered the opening of talks as a positive step.
Last year, the union had lodged a formal complaint to the International Labour Organisation which in turn asked the Fiji government to respond.
