Samoa seasonal workers

Over 100 Samoan seasonal workers depart for New Zealand before lockdown

The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour released a notice informing the public of the details of the workers departure.

The workers were advised to be at the airport at 9am to prepare for the charter flight on Saturday.

The Samoa Airport Authority also issued a public notice highlighting that the airport was off limits on Saturday, 22 January 2022.

The notice added; “This follows the Government's state of emergency (S.O.E.) restrictions.”

Samoa to send more seasonal workers to Australia

The Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour informed the LEEP Division, Lemalu Nele Leilua that three more flights have been organised to take workers for  slaughterhouse and agricultural work.

“On the 3rd, 5th, and the 15th of June 2021, more seasonal workers will be on these flights and depart the country for Australia.

“The trip on June 3 has a total of 216 passengers, a total of 142 passengers on 5 June and a total of 164 passengers on the 15th of June”, said Lemalu in a report in Savali newspaper.

Australia recruits 189 more Samoan seasonal workers

The group will depart on 25 May.

Over 300 seasonal workers departed this month for employment in Australia through the Australian Labour Mobility programmes in the Seasonal Work Program (SWP) for 9 months and the Pacific Labour Scheme for three years.

Assistant Chief Executive Officer at Samoa’s Labour Export and Employment Division, Lemalu Nele Leilua in an email to Savali newspaper said there are plans for more recruitments of workers from Samoa in the future.

Samoan father of five identified as fatal crash victim near Napier

Tagiilima who is employed as a seasonal worker was in a van with ten other workers that was involved in a collision with a truck near Tarawera.

Tagiilima was expected to return home in Vaimoso.

“The saddest part is, his children was waiting for their dad to be back home soon,” shares Fuatino Mualiagatele Ah Wai, who is a cousin of the deceased’s wife.

“My cousin is struggling to understand what is happening. She is shocked and trying to come to terms with what has happened to her dearest husband.”

Two Samoan RSE workers killed in a car accident in Australia

The chief executive officer of the Ministry of Labour, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, said the two men were killed in a car accident on Sunday in Perth.

He said the families of the men have been informed.

Pulotu said the two men had been out shopping, and that the accident happened on their return to their camp.

He said no alcohol was involved.

Pulotu said the ministry is deeply saddened about the latest accident involving seasonal workers.

Last month a 36 year-old Samoan seasonal worker was killed in a car accident in New Zealand.

Measles epidemic taking toll on Samoan seasonal workers

Jerf van Beek said many Samoan RSE workers had been affected by the impact of the epidemic on their families back home.

"Funerals are a very important part in the Samoan culture and we know it's very expensive," Mr van Beek said.

"We as an industry really want to support our RSE workers who are being affected by it, that they are able to come to New Zealand, earn the money and actually take it back again, under a very taxing situation."

So far, one Samoan worker in Hawke's Bay, has contracted measles. This worker was isolated and had since recovered.

Samoa Govt anticipates new seasonal work openings abroad

The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell, has predicted at least 600 new seasonal job openings for Samoans in New Zealand.

That comes as New Zealand looks to increase the cap on numbers of seasonal workers by over 3000 to 16,000 over the next two years.

Samoa has about 2500 workers on New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.

Lautafi is also enthused about new opportunities in Australia's Pacific Labour Scheme, Talamua reports.

Extra-marital affairs issue for Samoa seasonal workers 'manageable'

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour raised concerns following family members' complaints and posts on social media.

The ministry's chief executive, Pulotu Chu Ling, told Talamua Online his office had investigated the complaints it had received.

While there were still minor problems, it was now manageable, Pulotu said.

The ministry relays concerns to the liaison officer for the seasonal worker scheme on the ground in New Zealand, he said.