Seasonal work

It comes as the government tries to find out how a group of workers were able to depart for New Zealand for seasonal work, despite the temporary ban on the regional seasonal employer scheme.

RNZ Pacific reports Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio told the Parliament in Apia that the Australian Government made the announcement on new visas without consulting the Samoan Government.

He said this would hurt the Samoan labour workforce and lead to the loss of more skilled workers and their families to Australia permanently.

200 of them are men hired under Australia’s Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme for 3 years as meat processors.

Savali newspaper reports the rest are women employed for nine months as berry pickers sanctioned by the Seasonal Workers Programme.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Samoa Emily Luck was on hand at the Airport to send off the Samoan contingent off and witnessed the process to ensure that they meet the Health and COVID19 Border Security Requirements prior to departure.

Photo Savali newspaper