Historically the territory’s largest private employer StarKist Samoa faces a decline in employee numbers at the start of every year.
It’s when cannery employees, predominantly from Samoa, return from their Christmas and New Year break and also when taxes are filed and refund checks are issued.
At the start of 2021, with border closures preventing cannery workers from making their usual trip to Samoa for the holidays, StarKist had an even more challenging time maintaining workforce numbers at a steady level.
Michelle Faist, Vice President of StarKist Co. the local cannery’s parent company Said, “This year has been more challenging due to additional COVID benefits. We are aware that we are not the only company or government entity in American Samoa facing attendance problems. But our business is dealing with the employment shortage, which is impacting our ability to keep up with global demand.”
At meetings last month, StarKist proposed a local Guest Worker Program involving those already on island with problematic Immigration statuses that StarKist can assist if the government allowed it.
StarKist officials met with Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Lt. Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale and their team during which the government gave the cannery options.
“The program we are working to implement right now deals with foreign nationals with expired P5 ID cards. After they get their necessary police and hospital clearances, their cases will be reviewed by the Immigration Board and if approved for renewal, it would be on the condition that they work for StarKist Samoa,” Faist told KHJ News.
Asked if the proposal would resolve the cannery’s labor shortage, Faist said, “We are hopeful that the program – and the number of individuals eligible under it – will improve our headcount. Under the program, the applicants will benefit because their immigration statuses will be current so they can reside in American Samoa legally and they will be able to work.”
We asked if StarKist still foresees a need to hire from outside of American Samoa
“We are at an early stage of implementing this program, and will assess the need as we move forward,” said Faist.
Other options on the table include the Guest Worker Program, which is already set up by law.
“That would approve hiring from Samoa. For now, we want to look at foreign nationals who are already in American Samoa,” said Faist
The cannery executive pointed out that StarKist Samoa has been facing increasing costs compared to foreign competition.
“Labor shortage leads to even higher cost since we have to pay overtime to offset reduced daily production,” she shared.
“We appreciate tsupport that Gov. Lemanu and his Administration has provided for StarKist on this important issue.”
