Transcript
'ANA BING FONUA: There was a process that we had followed in terms of whether the contracts would be due to be terminated or not. There were some issues in terms of performance and non-compliance with the contracts that were in place. In terms of the seasonal workers, before they leave there are pre-departure briefings that are provided to them and they do understand what is expected of them. We have a high rate in terms of absconders, which I'm sure the general public are aware of, and we work together with the employers, and MBIE, as well as our liaison officers in New Zealand to inform us of the situation that's going on, on the ground, in New Zealand.
DON WISEMAN: What was the non-compliance?
ABF: So in terms of performance - issues with drinking, which they know is banned. They are not allowed to be drinking.
DW: They're not allowed to drink alcohol at all?
ABF: Yes. So there are policies in place in order for us to have orderly and respectful workers that go out and be able to not stay at home when the employer needs them to come to work, they would need to go to work on time and also be able to perform as part of their agreement...So, it's unfortunate that it is a small percentage that would have a huge impact on the perspective of employers on taking on Tongan workers in the future.
DW: So the employer complained to you guys at Internal Affairs did they?
ABF: Yes. So we have a liaison officer on board as well. So we communicate and we are informed immediately when things happen and our liaison officer had traveled to Kerikeri as well and kept us informed of what was going on.
DW: Okay. So nine came home. Are there another nine Tongans going over?
ABF: It would have to go through another process of sending over another group and it would be at the discretion of the employer and the ministry. So there are options that we are looking into but it would be the mutual agreement between the employer and government.
DW: The seasonal workers come over to New Zealand for what - six to eight months? To be alcohol free through that period - I think a lot of people would find that very hard?
ABF: Well, for Tonga, often it's normal that that is an expectation. That if you are to work and take part in the scheme, that they not take alcohol and a lot of the men and women who are involved in the RSE don't drink here in Tonga, so it is not as customary for the low-skilled and people who can't afford alcohol to drink on a daily basis in Tonga.
DW: The town leader in Tofoa says that it's a major blot on the town's name. Is it? Can the town be blamed?
ABF: Well, one of the approaches that government was working towards in terms of the options to reduce the overall absconding, in particular for Australia, which impacts the decision on how we manage the RSE, was to move towards a community approach, where we are able to send them, based on the villages and communities that they [are from] so that they have a leader who they know and they are endorsed by the leaders of their countries. The approach is that it would be more manageable and we can stand down communities that don't comply - because there are a lot more villages that haven't had the opportunity to go. Unfortunately we thought that there would be a more positive outcome. However this particular village wasn't able to perform to the expectations - we thought that they would have a more organised way or more manageable group, because they came from the same village.
DW: So Tofoa, at this stage, is not sending other people?
ABF: Well, there are others that are already in the system but they go in mixed groups. So there is a variety but we are not going to stand down all of those that are existing. If Tofoa is to propose in future [to go to NZ] then we would rethink the decision of letting them go based on events that have already happened.
DW: The workers I think when they arrived home, or at least one of them according to TBC, said they hadn't done anything wrong and they had been misled by the supervisor?
ABF: OK, so the Ministry is trying to get in touch with these individuals so that we can take in their side of the story as well - so that we can have it on record. We have faced issues before on seasonal workers who have gone on social media and the media as well to come and have one on one sessions, to realise that some of the information they gave both to the media and to the Ministry was untrue and the comments they had made to each party were conflicting. So we need to have the one on one sessions with them to have their side of their story and have it on record - just to clarify the things they have told the media.
DW: Yes, although one might have thought you would have asked those questions before you sent them home?
ABF: Yes, so that was done in New Zealand and so we would want to do it again here at the office so that we can close the files and have their written statements as well to verify what they said in New Zealand, if it's conflicting to what they are saying to the media.