Samoa to review Seasonal Worker Program after exploitation claims

The Pacific Island nation will look at its involvement in Australia’s Seasonal Worker Program after evidence of ‘appalling conditions’.

The Samoan government has called for a review of its participation in Australia’s Seasonal Worker Program after Samoan workers gave evidence to an Australian senate inquiry last week that they weren’t paid enough to feed themselves.

Speaking to Radio Polynesia this week, Samoa’s Minister of Public Enterprises Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo said he was “disappointed” by the way Samoan workers were treated, and called for an “urgent report” into the matter.

“I am very disappointed in the way these workers are currently handled or treated in these worker mobility programs in Australia, and we definitely do not tolerate the exploitation of our RSE workers in Australia for that matter,” he said.

Mr So’oialo said he had written to the chief executive of the Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour to request a full review of the program, through which about 2000 Samoan workers are currently in Australia and New Zealand.

Seasonal workers from Vanuatu and Samoa gave evidence to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security on February 2.

The call comes after two Samoan workers gave evidence to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security on February 2, detailing what they described as “appalling” living conditions, wage underpayment and risks to their health at a farm in Warburton, Victoria.

Speaking through an interpreter, worker Aleki, who was identified only by his first name for safety reasons, said he had been deceived about pay rates before he left Samoa.

Aleki said he signed a contract in Samoa that guaranteed an hourly rate of $25.41 per hour, but when he and other workers arrived at the farm in Warburton, they were told by the farm owner they would be paid a piece rate.

“I have eight children, I look after my parents, and my family. I have absolutely not enough money earning here in Australia to support my family back home,” he said.

Aleki, a seasonal worker from Samoa, gave evidence to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security on February 2.

Worker Talipope said he and other Samoan workers were forced to live four to a small room with no fan or airconditioning, and had to ask for water while working in the heat.

“There are no fans, there is no aircon, it is very, very hot,” he said.

He said when he and other workers tested positive to Covid-19, they were forced to isolate in their room for 10 days and did not have enough food.

“Four of us in one room, and once we were given some shopping that consisted of two (packets of) toilet paper, four packets of noodles, 2 (bars of) soap, four potatoes, one bottle of juice, one bread – for four people for one week,” he said.

He said he and the other isolating workers had no income during the 10 days’ isolation, but the following week had to pay double the normal weekly cost for expenses to cover the previous week, double the $50 weekly cost for transport, even though they had been unable to go anywhere.

“We came here to Australia to help our families in Samoa and the economy in Samoa. But it would have been better for us to stay home,” he said.

“We are begging you for help,” he told the Senate committee.