SEASONAL WORK HALT MAY BACKFIRE: Sorting Out a Few Bad Apples

8 March 2022

A decision of Cabinet to halt flight arrangements for seasonal workers after March 2022 was confirmed by the Prime Minister,  Fiame Naomi Mataafa on Monday.

The announcement follows a recommendation by the Minister for Commerce Labour and Industry to take time to address some issues relating to working conditions raised by several Samoan workers participating in overseas worker programs.

A source has revealed that in response, several major employers in New Zealand have indicated that if Samoa is unable to fulfill the quota of workers which it had agreed to secure, the employers would simply look elsewhere. Specifically, the employers would tap into the supply of workers from Fiji who have to date been excluded from these programs due to the incidence of Covid 19.

The nature of seasonal work is by definition, just that : "seasonal". This is particularly relevant to fruit picking where there is a limited opportunity to pick the crop for market. This process cannot be delayed or deferred while a government agency undertakes investigations.

There has been several reports by workers of mistreatment by employers relating to working conditions, accommodation, pay rates and some workers claiming they were treated like "slaves". Such issues warrant thorough investigation.

In Samoa concern has also been raised by several major private sector firms as well as industry organisations about the constant loss of skilled and semi-skilled workers to a scheme directed specifically to unemployed people. The public sector has also been affected with reports of qualified teachers and police officers resigning and joining the seasonal worker program in Australia and New Zealand. This has more to do with proper screening of applicants than the program itself.

Overall, there would appear to be a need for some internal and external review of the various seasonal worker programs and temporary migration schemes.

However if Samoa continues to halt seasonal worker flights and fail to deliver its quota of workers, it will be to Samoa's detriment. There is a plentiful supply of workers in other Pacific nations anxious to take up these jobs. With New Zealand's borders already opened up, the advantage which Samoa once had could well be lost.