The 3 workers are from the Kolomotu’a district in Tonga and are part of a larger group of Pacific island workers employed by Ulandra, which operates a banana plantation in Far North Queensland.

As of July 2020, the business employed 76 Pacific islanders, including 61 Tongans through the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS). 

Valeti said when the pandemic arrived in Australia, her employers were quick to check in with the Pacific workers and keep them informed.

“We had meetings about how to avoid getting COVID-19, and the farm has good hygiene. There are no cases here and every morning they check our temperature,” Valeti said.

Ulandra Human Resources Officer Amanda Carvalho said it was essential to reassure the workers that they would be able to stay and work in Australia.

“We showed them that things would stay stable. We organised the 408 visa for all the SWP workers and the PLS workers will get the extension allowed under their visa,” she said.

A slice of Tonga in Australia

Kesaia, Valeti and Viliami are lucky to have stable jobs and a supportive employer, but they have not been entirely unaffected by COVID-19.

“After six months we get a holiday and would normally go back to Tonga. Now we can’t do that,” Kesaia said.

But with such a large group of Tongans around them, Kesaia explained, the workers feel supported and connected to their homeland.

“We’re not homesick because we have close friends and some of us have family here. We have a community and are surrounded by nice people.”

Many of the Tongan workers at Ulandra live just outside town in shared accommodation known in their workplace as ‘the Tonga village’. The 45-bedroom facility includes a central garden, a gym, pool tables, a volleyball net and a big industrial kitchen.

Last year, Kesaia was hired through the PLS as a personal chef for the workers living at the village.

“I try lots of things but enjoy making traditional Tongan food to remind the boys of home and make them happy. I spoil them!” she said.

A change of routine due to COVID-19

At the height of the pandemic, Ulandra introduced a number of changes to keep workers safe, including social distancing. 

“We used to order poultry and lamb in bulk for those who don’t get their food provided and offer a weekly bus to take them to the supermarket for groceries,” Amanda said at the time.

“Now they send us their orders and we organise freight from the supermarkets instead.”

Social distancing also changed the way the workers socialised.

“We used to go each other’s houses for boxing and to exercise. We’d go to the town field and play soccer, then volleyball and go to mass on the weekend,” Valeti said.

“Now we go straight home after work. But we can still talk and make jokes with each other on the farm and use our mobile phones to stay in touch when we get home.”

Although they are looking forward to resuming their usual activities, Kesaia, Valeti and Viliami said they are happy for the chance to keep supporting their families back home.

“We can build or enlarge our houses, pay for tuition fees and vehicles, support our families … that’s why we love our job!” Viliami said.

“To our families, we miss you but don’t feel worried because we have our jobs so we can help you. We’re happy here and we feel at home.”