by Joyetter Feagaimaalii

Samoa News Staff

StarKist Samoa officials were in Apia earlier this week to collaborate with the Samoa’s Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor on a process to hire workers from Samoa on a regular basis, under the guest workers permit.

“They are seeking 500 guest workers for the canneries,” said Minister Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo in an interview with Samoa News.

He said there are similar programs in place such as the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in New Zealand and Seasonal Workers Program in Australia, but it’s quite different from American Samoa due to the requirements.

“For those hired to work in American Samoa the candidates must have families in the territory to live with. Also the significant differences is that for New Zealand and Australia they are hired on a contract basis, whereas for the US territory, once they are hired there is no timeframe, it could be one year up to ten years,” said Leatinu’u.

He said the cannery’s operation is the year round and they only take breaks during the holiday and considering the married men and women, they should be able to return home to be with their families.

“Otherwise, the workers need to take their families with them to live in American Samoa,” the Minister suggested.

He said that StarKist officials are hoping to hire directly from the Village District Councils initially setup as part of the $1 million tala District Developments offices.

The cannery is hoping to hire 500 guest workers from Samoa.

Adding that information relayed from the cannery they have over 2,000 staff and 90 percent of  are Samoa citizens, said the Minister. Leatinu’u said these issues were initially discussed with StarKist officials during the Atoa o Samoa talks between the two Governments held in July this year.

“We also offered them a [cannery] branch in Asau Savaii, there is a wharf for a factory on a smaller scale so our people can work here and stay in the Country,” asked Leatinuu.

“We also asked for a turnover whereas the guest workers can work and return home after a certain period of time, instead of the current situation whereas they only get a break during the holidays.”

Leatinuu said StarKist official are more keen on hiring people directly from the Districts as there are concerns about tracking and tracing the workers.

“There are [also] concerns that 90 percent of the people incarcerated at the territorial facility are from Samoa and they are trying to pinpoint where these people are from,” said the Minister.

“Not all of the inmates in American Samoa are in the territory on guest workers permit, but some are.”

Leatinuu said there was a request to StarKist if they can build flats (apartment) for the guest workers instead of them staying with their families.

In the meantime, the Minister said the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor are now working on a plan to accommodate the request from StarKist.

BACKGROUND

Last year Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga reinstated the guest workers permit for employment at a cannery or call center”.

At that time, StarKist Samoa faced worker shortages since 2021.

The Guest Worker Permit law, enacted a few years ago, authorized the Attorney General “to issue guest worker permits... for the purpose of entry of persons of Samoan ancestry born in the Independent State of Samoa into American Samoa for purposes of employment by either of the two canneries or call center.”

In April this year, the American Samoa Government says a total of 772 Samoan citizens were hired in America Samoa under the guest workers’ permit to work for Samoa’s largest private employer, StarKist Samoa Company, providing opportunities to several families and individuals amid the pandemic.  

A statement issued by the American Samoa Government says Attorney General Fainuulelei Ala’ilima-Utu reported that 906 block permits were issued for potential guest workers, and to date, 772 guest workers were approved and are working in the territory.

“Of those who have arrived, two were returned to Samoa immediately, and five of the workers have had their sponsorship terminated by StarKist.”

Fainuulelei commended the Lemanu-Talauega Administration’s initiative to continue the Guest Worker Program to continue to operate before and after the COVID-19 community spread which in turn has provided employment opportunities to over 2,000 employees, and opportunities for many supporting businesses.

Attorney General Fainuulelei in his report says that 765 guest workers have signed agreement forms with the Immigration Division of the Department of Legal Affairs, StarKist, and their host families. Additionally, each worker has been issued Immigration Identifications (ID) for employment.

Governor Lemanu in turn commended the AG’s office for successfully administering such a substantial number of guest workers to assist StarKist Samoa and their workforce needs.

In order to remain in the program, every guest worker must show proof of full vaccination as defined by the Department of Health, they must renew their employment ID with the Immigration Office every year, and show proof that they are still residing with the host family.