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StarKist Samoa returns to two shifts for final days of 2021

Airial view of StarKist
No official word on rumors of a continuing worker shortage
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With additional workers recruited from Samoa via the local Guest Worker Permit law, StarKist Samoa has resumed second-shift operations, but industry sources say that the largest private employer in the territory still has not reached the numbers of people employed a few months ago.

A StarKist Inc. corporate spokesperson acknowledged receiving Samoa News questions last week Thursday pertaining to the resumption of two-shifts, and requesting comments. However no official response was received at press time.

StarKist Samoa reduced production to one shift per day beginning May 24th due to the continued shortage of workers, as many of the employees at the time weren’t showing up to work due to benefits from the federal government via stimulus checks — $600 and $1,400 — which poured into the local economy     — and ASG was also releasing tax refunds.

The StarKist Inc., corporate office said at the time that the one-shift operation was to last for two weeks, due to “ongoing challenges to secure workers at the plant.”

To assist the cannery with recruiting workers, the Lemanu Administration approved the use of the Guest Worker Permit for StarKist to recruit workers from Samoa. COVID-19 declaration restrictions at the time that are still in place now, allow the entry of workers for the cannery and call centers under this law.

Some cannery workers told Samoa News last week that the second-shift production started late last month. Other cannery workers said the second shift start on Nov. 22nd and pointed out that the three-days before the Thanksgiving break — from Nov. 22 to Nov. 24 — was the trial run.

A cannery supervisor and other industry sources told Samoa News over the weekend that StarKist Samoa still has not reached the numbers that they had before production went to one shift.

Information received by Samoa News states that there is still the issue of “absenteeism” faced by StarKist with workers absent from work and the guest workers from Samoa covering for that. However, since StarKist is still not at the employment numbers it had before —the cannery is still recruiting from Samoa for guest workers and also seeking regular hires locally.

ASG officials said over the weekend that the Governor’s Office is being kept abreast with developments at StarKist Samoa, and the Administration is ensuring that all of the assistance needed is being given to the cannery to continue to recruit workers from Samoa.

Meanwhile, cannery workers say they were informed last month of the annual StarKist Samoa end of the year two-week shutdown. This year, the last day of production will be on Dec. 17,  resuming on Jan. 3, 2022. During the shutdown, the cannery carries out maintenance and upgrades.