7 Mar 2007

Talks planned to determine future of Fiji's Vatukoula mine

4:56 pm on 7 March 2007

Australian officials will fly to Fiji for talks with government and union representatives amid calls for the sale of the Vatukoula gold mine to stop.

The union wants the military-backed regime to block the sale because it believes those involved with the Emperor Gold Mining Company will continue to run it.

Emperor closed the mine on the day of the military takeover last December and laid off over 1,700 workers.

The union's general secretary, Satish Chandra, says the union suspects those who previously ran the mine will continue to administrate it.

Mr Chandra says the mine should be sold to a company keen to resume operations quickly and re-employ the redundant miners.

He says those interested in buying the mine need to consult widely.

"First I think they have to meet the union and the government to discuss the issue to resolve it and the proposals and other stuff like the employment has to be fair. Then we can agree to it and allow them to purchase the mine."

He says its likely the miners will have to reapply for their jobs.