By Staff Writer
“The only reason we reacted in defiance was at earlier promises made that the scheme will be closed down for Samoa”.
This was the conciliatory response from Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, after learning the popular scheme that was brought to life during his long tenure in office, as Government leader will continue.
His resolve to protest eased up with assurances by the Minister of Labour Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo the scheme is being reviewed only.
The Labour Minister did disclose in Parliament during the week, talks with the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand, in the hopes to slow down the flights for seasonal workers leaving from Samoa.
At the moment close to 4 thousand workers are yet to be returned home since the May-November period last year and it appears to be a concern.
But this was just one example of pressing issues that must be looked at again.
A fair workers selection process largely left to the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour to co-ordinate is a key concern in the review.
Why some workers come and go while others are stuck on the waiting list between 2 to 3 years without being called up was a telling concern.
An offered solution that won strong support is a workers allocation system left to the villages to run.
“Leaving it up to each of the 51 Electoral Districts to make their own workers selection based on a quota they are allocated, is worth taking serious note of,” Leatinu’u reacted to members suggestion.
The practice is already a proven success in a few cases, most notably for Poutasi, Falealili, where it is co-ordinated successfully by respected village chief, Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale.
The Minister agreed that it is easier and more effective for villages to handle their own selection process because they know everyone personally.
“It’s a challenge for the Ministry [MCIL] to know all the people from the large crowd they have to process for work contract under the scheme,” Leatinu’u agreed.
What the reviewing committee decides on this issue will be closely watched with overwhelming support for decentralizing the selection process away from the Ministry.
A deciding influence for the villages getting the approval nod in the review is the effective enforcement of scheme conditions by workers.
The Minister told Parliament of more than 200 workers who turned troublemakers against the rules of the scheme returning on a scheduled flight home.
Some have been waiting for sometime to return home after they were let off work for breaking contract conditions.
Leatinu’u added that 18 of the workers returning on the special flight are ‘blessed’ referring lightheartedly to pregnant women workers.
“These among other reasons is why we have to slow down the processing our workers so we can review the scheme.”
The selected review committee starts sitting in this week. Committee members are drawn from Government ministries, private sector and the National Council of Churches.
“There will representatives from the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions as well.”
The RSE Scheme contracts up to 8 thousand workers from Samoa and has been a huge welcoming relief for the struggling national economy since the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Labour Minister acknowledged with gratitude the seasonal workers share of contribution to the $600m tala total remittance revenue recorded for the 2020-2021 financial period.