Samoa Workers Union Look to Seasonal Scheme for Laid-off Workers

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Samoa First Union jointly conducted an Internship Orientation workshop and training to upgrade the skills and knowledge of the laid-off workers.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 08 JUNE 2021: Two of Samoa’s Workers Unions are urging the Government for employment opportunities in the Seasonal Workers Scheme in New Zealand and Australia for workers who have been laid-off workers in Samoa.

The Executive Officer of the Samoa First Union of Workers, Seveaoga Saina Tomi Setu said currently the laid-off workers that approached their office for work is well above 2,000 mainly from the private sector.

Most of them used to work at hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, Vailima Breweries, Apia Bottling, and returning seafarers.

She believes the COVID-19 lock down and the delay in the establishment of a new Government has impacted mostly the private sector workers.

If the delay continues, I don’t know how some families will survive, she said.

“This is why we are approaching the Seasonal Workers Scheme for opportunities for these laid-off workers,” said Seveaoga.

She said her office is collaborating with the Samoa Workers Congress in trying to find a solution to the problem.

Recently the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Samoa First Union jointly conducted an Internship Orientation workshops and training to upgrade not just the skills and knowledge of the laid-off workers in various fields, but also their discipline.

Agreement with SABB & ILO
As of last week, 12 laid-off workers have secured work under the International Labour Organisation (ILO) funded SABB E-Waste Project.

The project includes dismantling and sorting broken computers for recycling purposes.

“We have appealed to other companies to assist with employment opportunities if they could,” said Seveaoga.

In August 2020, the ILO launched their Rapid Assessment of the COVID-19 Impact on Business, Employment & Households in Samoa Report.

Of the 200 laid-off employees interviewed for the report, 64% were females and 36% males.

Seveaoga pondered that if only 200 were interviewed then, and with over 2,000 laid-off workers now, plus the delay in establishing a Government, puts a lot of uncertainty on the future of these laid-off workers.

Such uncertainty has moved the Samoa First Union to look elsewhere for a solution and their major hope is the Seasonal Workers Scheme.