Samoans heading overseas for seasonal work say they've often lied about their employment status, in order for them to be selected to work in either Australia or New Zealand. 

Some of the seasonal workers, who spoke to the Samoa Observer on the condition of anonymity out of fear of being blacklisted, admit that they've lied about being unemployed when applying. 

“They didn’t do any background checks on me they just asked if I had a job or not,” one of the workers said in an interview with this newspaper. 

“I have a job but I lied so I can leave to work overseas because it is fast money and it is a lot more than what my whole household earn put together.” 

Some of those selected to work overseas are public servants while others are from the private sector in Samoa, who are elated at earning more from fruit picking.

While their choice to go abroad has had an impact on the workforce in the country, the men said their utmost priority is to feed their family and put their children in school. 

“There is too much financial commitment in our small communities and what we make from our job here is not enough to get by everyday,” a father of three said. 

“I know there is a shortage in workplaces but our Government is not giving us any solution to the minimum wage and the high cost of living. 

“This is the only alternative for people like me is to find work overseas, even if that means to do labour work and be away from my family for some time…someone has to make sacrifices to make ends meet.” 

According to the seasonal workers, they were not asked to provide any other documentation or were thoroughly screened on their employment status. 

It was just last month that close to 20 seasonal workers left for New Zealand without the approval of the Cabinet, while a Samoa Government initiated review is currently underway. 

The Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo said the normal process for seasonal workers is the list gets submitted to the Cabinet for consideration and final approval. 

He explained he also has a screening process to crack down on those with local jobs leaving for seasonal work as the scheme is for those who are unemployed. 

“I also have a screening process which is a very simple one, the list is given to N.P.F. to verify if these people are active members and if they are they are still working and shouldn’t be going,” said Leatinuu. 

“The current process [from M.C.I.L.] is random selection but the due diligence process will help us keep our skilled workers and the scheme is supposed to be for the unemployed.”

The private sector and Government have lamented losing skilled workers to the seasonal work scheme which prompted a review of the schemes to ensure Samoa’s workforce is maintained.