Vaimauga 4 District prepare recruits for RSE overseas work

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 12 March 2025 – Thirty young men women of the Vaimauga 4 district are currently undergoing training as the second recruitment from the district for overseas seasonal work.

The training is conducted with the Labour Employment Export Program (LEEP), Samoa First Union (SFU) and the Ministry of Labour before securing a final number to be recruited for overseas jobs.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Vaimauga 4 District Council, Tonu’u Fuamoli Amituanai Misi said she is excited about the second phase of their seasonal workers program.

Last year, the district conducted a fact-finding mission to identify both the positive and negative impacts of the program after so many issues raised by former seasonal workers in past programs.

The first group already working in Australia and New Zealand went through thorough and intense preparatory training sessions which included workers rights, minimum wage and the importance of joining a workers Union not only in Samoa but in country of employment.

Tonu’u believes this is an opportunity for the 30 youth of the district to make something for themselves and assist their families.

Tonu’u visited some of the employers in New Zealand last year to negotiate the opportunities for work and since then, they have been in sessions with the local RSE counterparts for tailored training to prepare the potential workers.

“This is a good start for the development of districts youths because not only they now have secure work overseas, but we have laid the foundation for in-house training on carpentry, sewing, plumbing, cooking and other trades for our youths who could not get a chance for seasonal work,” said Tonu’u.