Fiji's Labour Minister Jone Usamate on Monday hailed that the Mediation Unit within his ministry has witnessed a high success rate of grieviances and dispute resolution.

Usamate made the remarks while speaking at the opening of the workshop of Managing Conflicts and Resolving Disputes Effectively Through Mediation Training in Suva.

There are currently nine mediators in five centers around the Pacific island country.

Since the Mediation Unit was established in 2008, there has been a slow but decisive increase in the number of grievances reporting, and there has been an increase of around 80 percent in the settlement rate of such grievances, says Usamate.

Usamate attributed the increase to the quality and high level training conducted by the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) for local labor officials.

SMC, a non-profit organization guaranteed by the Singapore Academy of Law, is linked institutionally with many professional and trade associations and has the support of both the Supreme Court and the Subordinate Courts of Singapore.

Officers from the SMC have brought in a significant change in Fiji as it is dedicated to promoting the amicable and fair settlement of disputes to create an environment in which people can work together to find enduring solutions to conflicts and tensions created by human interactions.

It also contributes to the building of a harmonious society, and a thriving business community, by broadening awareness of, and providing access to, constructive means of dispute resolution.

While opening the 4-day workshop, Usamate stressed the only way Fiji can have a sustainable democracy is to ensure that issues that lead to conflict are dealt with.

Usamate said the practice of mediation brings peace and harmony amongst disputing parties and ultimately will bring peace to the society.

Unlike other mediation centers within the Asia Pacific region, mediation services in Fiji were free as part of government's social obligation to the workers and employers of the island nation, he added.