FIRM ON HUMAN RIGHTS : HRPP opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi soundly condemns visa exclusion of Samoan skilled workers for permanent residence in Australia
By Staff Writer
Australia’s decision to shut out Samoan skilled workers and their families from applying for permanent residence, is blasted as discrimination by the HRPP opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
“This is not the Australia I know of during our time, this legislation discriminates against the rights of Samoan skilled workers to seek better opportunities for them and their families,” Tuilaepa asserted in his weekly media conference today.
He did not like having Samoa singled out as it is done here but suspects that Australia’s action was in response to the FAST Government worries at the loss of the local workforce.
Tuilaepa insisted there are ‘a thousand ways’ to keep the workers at home and the solutions are all in the hands of Government.
He suggested one way is for fair management decisions of workers promotion so they are not offended by being unfairly overlooked, enough to make them want to leave.
Another is giving them a salary raise deserving of their work value.
What Tuilaepa strongly protested in Australia’s visa exclusion policy is the denial of workers right to make their own decision whether to stay or leave Samoa.
“If they feel work opportunities available outside Samoa will benefit them and their families in the future, the final decision is theirs to make not an immigration policy,” he argued.
Kiribati is the only other island country, along with Samoa, faced with the same visa restrictions in Australia.
Both are included in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme where all other island members countries are allowed to apply for permanent residence.
The Pacific Engagement Visa, PEV, is the new Australian immigration visa policy soundly condemned by the Samoan former PM.
Tuilaepa assured the full support of his Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP, behind the skilled workers whose basic human rights are denied.
“Human rights is the foundation of what our political party stands for and we stand in full support of our skilled workers right to make decisions they believe will benefit them fully.”
Australia is however reportedly still in discussion with Government over what has now turned into a controversial issue for the Samoan skilled workforce.