StarKist works with Samoa District Development Centers to hire workers

Apia, SAMOA – 21 January 2026 – StarKist Samoa is now working with District Development Centers or Ofisa o Fono Faavae in Samoa to hire people from the districts to work at the cannery in American Samoa.

General Manager of StarKist Samoa, Injoo Ha, led the StarKist delegation that met with Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt and Cabinet ministers early this week.

The delegation included the Deputy General Manager of StarKist Samoa, Tufuga Faafoi Palepua Tufuga, Human Resources Manager Laosamoa Poasa, and Interpreter Edmund Kim. Samoa’s Consul General to American Samoa Fata Brian Kaio also accompanied the StarKist group.

Tufuga said this is a positive step forward their recruiting efforts in Samoa. He believes the involvement of district offices in the selection of workers for the cannery would provide an effective monitoring system of guest workers.

The Starkist Samoa delegation with the Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt in Cabinet Room.

During the meeting with the Samoan Cabinet, Starkist officials provided an update of the company providing accommodation for Samoan guest workers.

Since last year, StarKist has provided housing in Vaitogi and Tafuna for guest workers. He said there are two apartment buildings that the cannery Is using to accommodate 120 guest workers.

He said while the company still has plans to build housing on leased land at Atuu for guest workers, this is taking longer than anticipated so for the time being they’ve found accommodations for the workers at Vaitogi and Tafuna.

Housing for guest workers is the main concern that Samoa had raised in the past as guest workers staying with relatives raised major issues that have impacted negatively on the workers on the job attendance and performance.