Govt launches $10m COVID19 Assistance for the Private Sector

APIA, SAMOA – 04 FEBRUARY 2022: Over six thousand businesses will share $10milion talā appropriated in the 2021/2022 Budget to assist the private sector in their efforts to combat the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic on their operations.

The Minister of Businesses, Leatinuu Wanye Sooialo launched the Government COVID19 Private Sector Assistance today for all eligible businesses who were operating pre-COVID and are still operating to date.

A total of 6363 eligible businesses will receive the following allocation:

• Sole Traders and Partnerships: $1500/per business license/activity and should they have more than 4 businesses, only 4 will be funded, that is, maximum of $6,000.00 for a sole trader or partnership with at least 4 business licenses.
• Companies: $1800/business license/activity and should they have more than 5 businesses only 5 will be given the grant to, that is, maximum of $9,000.00 for a company with at least 5 business licenses.

The Assistance is administered by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour and will be working together with the Ministry of Customs and Revenue, Ministry of Finance and the Samoa Bureau of Statistics.

All eligible businesses will need to fill out an Application from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour or from its website at www.mcil.gov.ws.

The eligible businesses are required to submit copies of their Business Licenses for year ended 2020 and 2021 together with the Application Form to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour for assessment and approval before funds are disbursed by the Ministry of Finance. All businesses also are required to report back after one (1) month of receiving their grant on how their fund was utilized.

Excluded from this Assistance are those in the Tourism Industry operating accommodation services, tour operators and travel agents. They have already been covered in the $5million talā Tourism Fund of launched in late 2021.

2. Worker Associations Grant
   The Government also launched the Worker Associations Grant to a total of $20,000 talā. The Grant is directed towards work associations sitting on the Samoa National Tripartite Forum (SNTF).

The Forum has been a longstanding platform for discussion of national labour and employment policies, legislation and strategies. Using the principles of social dialogue and tripartite consultation, representatives of Government, employers and workers are able to have their voices heard in the development of important labour and employment matters to ensure that all constituents are sharing in the fruits of economic development.

The members on this forum are positioned to ensure issues important to workers are addressed across all occupations including private and public sector, and specifically nursing and maritime workers.

The Grant is allocated for the following (4) Worker Associations:

1. Samoa Workers Congress
2. Public Service Association
3. Samoa Nurses Association
4. Samoa Seafarers and Maritime Association

Each of these Worker Associations will receive a $5,000 talā grant.

This grant will be an annual fixture to support Worker Associations with their administrative costs and importantly planning of each recipient in rolling out their respective programs.