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Samoa
Samoan worker at Collins Bananas. Photo Madec

Talofa lava!

 

Samoa lies to the north-east of Fiji and west of the international dateline and consists of 4 inhabited islands and several smaller islands and outcrops.

In 1962, Samoa became the first former territory in the Pacific to become independent.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Samoa

Samoa country fact sheet

Why recruit workers from Samoa?

Workers from Samoa are experienced in agriculture and horticulture, aged care, meat processing, tourism and hospitality, fisheries and health services, as well as a range of other industries.

Samoan men and women are known for being strong, hardworking and quick to learn.

Through Australian and New Zealand labour mobility programs, Samoans have worked in fruit and vegetable picking and packing, pruning, banana humping, poultry farming, fishing, tourism and meat processing. 

How to recruit workers from Samoa

To recruit workers from Samoa under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, an Australian employer must be approved as a PALM scheme employer.

Alternatively, an employer may wish to engage workers through a PALM scheme approved labour hire company

Find out more about becoming a PALM scheme employer.

PALM scheme employers can recruit workers through the Labour and Employment Export Division (LEEP) work-ready pool or via direct recruitment.

LEEP is part of the Ministry of Finance, and recruits, processes and prepares workers for overseas employment. 

For more information, please contact LEEP on (+685 344 25) or by email on (all@leep.gov.ws).

How to join the PALM scheme as a worker 

A Samoan worker at Cowra Meat Processing in New South Wales

Citizens of participating countries must apply to join the PALM scheme through the labour sending unit in their country.

There is currently a pause on recruitments. For more information, please contact the labour mobility unit by phone (+685 20 441) or by email (all@leep.gov.ws).

LEEP opens registrations twice a year and will advertise in Samoan media when this occurs.

You do not need to pay or give gifts to anyone to join the PALM scheme. If you have been offered a job in the PALM scheme, your employer will pay for your flights and some other costs up front so you can travel to Australia. You will need to gradually repay your employer for these costs once you start earning a wage.