18 Jan 2019

StarKist in American Samoa wants more foreign workers

11:15 am on 18 January 2019

The tuna cannery StarKist Samoa has asked the American Samoa government to re-instate a guest worker programme to ease a labour shortage.

no caption

Photo: RNZI / Monica Miller

Under this programme the workers can avoid the usual immigration approvals.

In the past, the main source of workers under the programme was neighbouring Samoa.

The cannery has reported staff turnover up to 50 percent and a pronounced labour shortage after the Christmas break.

In his most recent state of the territory address, Governor Lolo Moliga called on lawmakers to do what they could to help the last cannery in American Samoa.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs