20 Jun 2013

NZ called on to help find jobs for migrating Samoans

10:49 am on 20 June 2013

The New Zealand government is being called on to help find jobs for Samoans wanting to migrate under the annual quota.

Talamua Online reports the Sagaga Le Usoga MP, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, saying this would make it easier for applicants to meet the compulsory quota requirement of having a job to go to in New Zealand before they will be accepted.

He says many of the applicants spend a lot of money on unsuccessful job searches, quoting one woman who said she had spent more than two and a half thousand US dollars without success.

The prime minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi told parliament he has asked his New Zealand counterpart, John Key, if a family's breadwinner could migrate first and be joined by family after securing a job.

There are 1100 places on the annual Samoan quota but New Zealand officials say in recent years thi has often not been filled despite thousands of applicants.