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Pacific News Briefs

StarKist employees at gate
Source: RNZ Pacific

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Workers at American Samoan tuna cannery StarKist are bracing for a one shift per day operation for the rest of the month.

There are normally two shifts per day, but there's been a shortage of fish and employees to process them.

Workers have vented on social media claiming tough working conditions, while those who've taken unexcused absences are being fired.

Some of those who've been notified of termination have been missing work for up to months on end, as they've received stimulus checks.

Industry sources told local media StarKist will be using imported fish this month but that this is a temporary situation which the cannery had to take because of the worker shortage.

RNZ Pacific emails to StarKist asking for an update haven't been answered.

AUSTRALIA'S LAWYERS CALL FOR THE RULE OF LAW IN SAMOA

Australia's two main lawyer bodies have called for the rule of law to prevail in Samoa following the contested election in April.

The Law Council of Australia President Jacoba Brasch QC said it is the role of the courts to interpret Samoa's Constitution, and to ensure matters arising out of the election are resolved through the proper judicial process.

Dr Brasch said the outcomes must also be respected.

The Australian Bar Association has issued a similar appeal saying it supports the Samoan judiciary in exercising its vital role in resolving the issue.

The New Zealand Law society earlier said attacks on the nation's judiciary were unacceptable.

OVER 40,000 PEOPLE IN SAMOA RECEIVE FIRST COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

More than 40,000 people in Samoa have now received their first Covid-19 vaccinations.

As of Saturday, 22,299 males and 17,814 females had received their first dose of the two-shot AstraZeneca vaccine.

The current phase of vaccines is being supplied through the global Covax facility which is supplying 79,000 doses for 20 percent of Samoa's population.