By Martha Taumata Faavae
Tragedy has struck two RSE workers who died from a fatal road collision last Sunday in Perth, Australia, where they work.
The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour CEO Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling confirmed the tragedy today, Tuesday 8 September 2020.
“The report we have received is the men were doing the weekend shopping for their working group when the accident occurred on the road,” Pulotu responded to enquiries by Newsline Samoa of the tragedy.
One of the men was married and both were from the Safata constituency.
Pulotu confirmed that the pair were members of a Samoa working group of about 20 who were contracted under the RSE scheme for poultry work in the Australian city.
“The two men ended their working contracts last month and were due to return home at the end of the 9 months job arrangement.
“Travel restrictions made them decide to further extend their working contracts.”
The men were no strangers to the country after serving an initial 9 months contract before returning for a second contract under the scheme.
The pair were among the 600 Samoans working under the RSE scheme in Australia.
Pulotu said the families of the deceased have been officially informed.
Government will be looking into arrangements to return the bodies home.
This is now the second tragedy for the Samoan RSE workers within the space of about four weeks.
Another road accident killed an RSE worker in New Zealand only a few days out from catching the flight home about two weeks ago at the end of his contract.
