Mediation is an effective method to resolve dispute, says the Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Taito Waqa.
He made the comment at the opening of the Mediation Training in association with the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) at the Holiday Inn Suva on Monday.
“This three-day mediation training is targeting senior executives and managers of the ministry and for the first time, we have invited religious organisations from every faith to be part of it,” Mr Waqa said.
“This is the first time for the Singapore Mediation Centre to conduct free professional training for religious organisations.”
“Mediation contributes to economic growth and productivity, it fills relationship and solutions can be sustained.”
He said the cost of conflicts affected economic growth directly and indirectly.
Chief guest George Lim Teong Jin of the Singapore Mediation Centre, says mediation is gaining popularity all over the world.
“Fiji is known for the diversity of its people and this is the best time for Fiji setting up a mediation centre,” Mr Jin said.
Mr Jin is a senior counsel who is a member of the Board of the Singapore Mediation Centre and the Singapore International Mediation Centre.
He is also a member of the International Mediation Institute, Singapore Institute of Legal Education and the Pro Bono Management Committee of the Law Society.
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