Apia, SAMOA — There could be employment for Samoans in the neighboring country of American Samoa as the StarKist fish processing plant looks for workers.

This is following labor mobility issues that were raised during the Atoa o Samoa talks..  A report by the Samoa Press Secretariat on Thursday this week (Samoa time) also highlighted 25 other key outcomes of the meeting.

For the StarKist recruitment, emphasis was placed ensuring that the safety and rights of workers must be prioritized.

"It is widely acknowledged that people are attracted to the higher wage rates in American Samoa," the report reads.

"It is not unusual to find that there is often a diversity of skills sets amongst those that are recruited such as electricians, and mechanics who are then placed in appropriate jobs within the company and not necessarily on the cannery floor.

"Often when workers want to switch employment, they are advised to retain their sponsors and notify the Immigration Board.

"Requests for more workers are anticipated in the near future but must follow the endorsed procedures for recruitment through both governments."

There are approximately 1600 workers that are currently employed by the U.S. based company.

Read more at Samoa Observer