StarKist Samoa is seeking the government’s help to address a labor shortage at the cannery.
It is asking for the reinstatement of the guest worker program to allow foreigners to work at the cannery without having to go through the usual immigration approvals.
The guest worker program has been instituted from time to time only for the benefit of the canneries and the source of guest workers is American Samoa’s closest neighbor Samoa.
Responding to KHJ News questions the governor’s Special Assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira confirmed that StarKist Samoa officials met with Governor Lolo Moliga last week and made their request.
He said the cannery reports that there’s a more than 50 percent turnover with production employees and the shortage of labor has become pronounced after the holidays.
Iulogologo said following the meeting a group of officials of the Attorney General’s Office, Immigration and the Governor’s Office to discuss the request.
And they will be making a recommendation to the governor soon.
KHJ News knows of some employees who used to work at the cannery who have opted to go on Samoa’s seasonal worker programs in New Zealand and Australia
In his State of the Territory Address Governor Lolo said that the cannery needs all the help it can get and called on lawmakers to do what they can to help.
He mentioned the many challenges facing StarKist Samoa such as Coast Guard and EPA regulations, limited access to fishing areas, and a minimum wage that’s much higher than other tuna producing countries.
Emails and calls to StarKist Samoa regarding the guest worker request have not been answered.
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