Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — U.S-based StarKist Co., has confirmed monetary assistance and tuna products for StarKist Samoa employees who tested COVID-19 positive or isolated due to family member who tested positive and have urged all eligible cannery employees to get their booster dose.

Based on information from cannery workers and/ or their family members, Samoa News reported last Friday that “every hourly employee gets a $30 gift” added to their paychecks last week and they also get cases of tuna. Furthermore, those who tested positive or had to stay home because he/ she was in close-contact with a family member who tested-positive and therefore missed work, gets $30 cash and cases of tuna. And this one is on top of the $30 in their checks. 

Samoa News last week Wednesday sought confirmation from StarKist corporate office as well as comment on the reason behind the move to help its more than 2,000 workers.

In a statement last Friday, StarKist Co., spokesperson Michelle Faist confirmed that StarKist is providing monetary assistance and tuna products to employees who test positive for COVID-19, or are being isolated because of a family member who tested positive.

“We understand the importance of providing this type of support to help employees care for family members during this difficult time,” Faist said.

“In addition, StarKist employees who have come to work since we resumed production are receiving cases of tuna and additional monetary assistance in April,” she explained. “This additional support is a way we are showing our appreciation to StarKist Samoa employees for their hard work and commitment,” she said.

“The safety of our workers is the top priority,” she said adding that the company continues to work closely with the entire leadership team to ensure that StarKist Samoa remains a safe and secure workplace.

And “we encourage our employees who are eligible to get a booster vaccine to protect themselves and their families, and co-workers,” said Faist.

She also said that StarKist continues to work closely with Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, ASG’s COVID-19 Task Force, Health director Motusa Tuileama Nua and the DoH team.

A DoH report presented at the task force briefing last week states that the cannery’s total workforce is 2,253 and all of them are fully vaccinated.

StarKist Samoa since last year, has mandated that all employees be fully vaccinated and the company has been encouraging eligible workers to get the booster dose — and 1,063 of them have received it, as of last week.