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Better legislation, union support and customer boycotts all weapons in fight to protect seasonal workers from exploitation

By
Kaniva Staff
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Kaniva news commentary

Tongan workers in Tasmania said this week they wanted to warn people in the kingdom what they were getting themselves into by joining the Seasonal Worker Programme in Australia.

“We want them to know the truth. People just pay for the airfares and come over here because they don’t have the information they need,” the workers told the ABC.

Their comments came after the latest accusations of substandard housing of Tongan workers employed by Costa, this time involving accommodation owned by Burnie Mayor Steve Kons

Despite the benefits remittances and labour mobility bring to Pacific Island workers, recent events have shown they need to be offered proper protection from exploitation.

There have been concerns about the treatment of regional workers on both sides of the Tasman.

New Zealand

In New Zealand a  major case has been brought to trial over the alleged exploitation of 13 Samoan workers.

Legal expert Dr Jade Lindley told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat programme that many Pacific Islanders travelling to New Zealand and Australia were vulnerable to trafficking.

Dr Lindley said reports of  trafficking and slavery in the seasonal agricultural industry were common.

“We definitely have seen these types of cases before,” Dr Lindley told Pacific Beat.

Last year Australia’s National Union of Workers said the exploitation of migrants was rampant in the agricultural sector.

The union NUW said it was launching an investigation into exploitation in Australia’s fruit picking industry where some foreign farm workers were enduring “slave-like conditions” and receiving wages as low as $8 a day.

Fiona Reynolds, chair of the UN Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking said that while Australia’s anti-slavery laws set a global benchmark, labour laws  needed to be reformed to address the risks of slavery in agriculture.

Australia had a long and unenviable reputation of exploiting Islander workers on its colonial sugar plantations.

Unfortuntaley, there have been too many stories of workers from across the Pacific having bad experiences in Australia under the current scheme for the days of blackbirding not be recalled.

Legislation

Australia has legislation in place that should oblige companies to report infringements.

Australia’s new Modern Slavery Act requires both public and private organisations turning over more than $100 million annually to report on actions to mitigate risks of slavery in their operations and supply chain.

However, with the agricultural industry often fragmented into contractors and sub-contractors it would not be hard for a company to claim that it was unaware of what one sub-contractor was doing with another.

Earlier this week Kaniva  news reported about 70 Tongan workers who were crammed into a five  bedroom house in the Tasmanian town of Latrobe, which has drew condemnation from Australian trades union.

Australian unions said the Tongan workers’ employer, Costa, had committed what amounted to human rights abuse.

The Retail Supply Chain Alliance said Costa should face significant penalties for breaching its employer responsibilities.

“Employers like Costa are taking advantage of vulnerable people for profit and they deserve to face the full brunt of the law in this matter.

“I think Australian shoppers will be horrified to discover that the berries they eat every day come as a result of worker exploitation at its very worst level.”

A government enquiry is underway, but questions have to be asked about whether Australian legislation is inadequate to protect seasonal workers.

If the legislation proves to be inadequate or unenforcable, then perhaps the  best to reinforce it is with boycotts by shopper who may well decide they do not want to buy products that may be the product of exploitation.

Companies, contractors and sub-contractors may fear suffering financially from boycotts and public exposure more than government legislation.

Tongan workers in Australia must feel that they are properly protected. They must know the law will protect them if they speak out and they must know that unions and customers will stand by them.

However, they should also expect support from their own Parliament. They should have the assurance that the Tongan  government will step up and demand that Canberra will meet its obligations to ensure that workers are paid, housed and treated fairly.

Definition

UNESCO defines human trafficking very broadly as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

For more information

Costa condemned for allowing agricultural workers to live in slum-like conditions
Mayor refuses to answer questions from furious public over Tongan worker housing scandal

Migrants trapped in ‘slave-like’ conditions at Aussie farms

Migrants trapped in ‘slave-like’ conditions at Aussie farms

Abandoned house destroyed by fire in Vava‘u

By
Kaniva Staff
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Firefighters were called early this morning to house fire at Leimātu’a but the building was engulfed when they arrived.

Neiafu town officer, Vāvā Lapota said the house was abandoned.

He said the fire has destroyed the house.

Lapota said a couple occupied the house but they left two weeks ago.

No one was hurt.

This was the second house fire in Vava’u for this year.

Tongan church in Gisborne gutted by huge fire

By
Kaniva Staff
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A huge blaze has destroyed a church belonged to the Free Church of Tonga in Gisborne, New Zealand.

The fire at Rutene Road was reported at around 1pm on Tuesday.

The fire destroyed the building, a tree next to it, and smoke could be seen and smelt throughout the city.

The Tongan church had used the old original Presbyterian church for the past 10 years.

No reports of injuries.

The Fire and Emergency Services attended the scene before the fire was contained.

PM’s ‘Eua Meeting: national fono, agriculture, fisheries and farming highlight as ‘Euans’ urgent needs summarised as roads, safe water and packing house

By
Kalino Latu
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Sponsored:

Audios of the Prime Minister’s meeting in ‘Eua were provided by the Prime Minister’s office and transcribed and translated into English by Kaniva News. This English version of the audios had been abridged.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has summarised his meeting with the people of ‘Eua and said their urgent needs were to repair and construct new roads, have safer water supplies and a packing house for their crops.

He said some of the roads would be sealed and fundraising was expected in the ‘Eua community to help pay for tar for the roads.

The Prime Minister said ‘Eua needed 650 new water tanks and this was part of a government project which was expected to be completed by 2021.

He said the upgrade to the roads would come with each home having a mail box and address number for the first time.

National  Fonos

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said he would hold a national fono shortly as part of his attempt to meet directly with everyone in Tonga including adults, parents and the elderly.

He said he and a delegation will visit from place to place throughout the kingdom during these fonos.

He asked people who attended a meeting in ‘Eua last week to invite the people from their villages to meet and speak with him in that fono.

He said the plan was to hold one fono this year and another next year.

The Prime Minister said this reaching out to people would show Tonga was a constitutional democratic monarchical government.

Public concerns

People in the meeting in ‘Ohonua, including women from handicrafts making groups and town officers, were concerned at the damage to evacuation centres and buildings for women’s weaving and koka’anga caused by Tropical Cyclone Gita

Minister of Finance Tevita Lavemaau, who is also ‘Eua MP, said the government had provided TP$30,000 to help repair the evacuation centres. He also said the government would also build 15 weaving houses in ‘Eua.

‘Eua was not affected by the recent Tropical Cyclone Tino but the Hon Lavemaau said the Prime Minister visited the ‘Eua High School and viewed the construction of two classrooms and a hall at Hofangahau College.

He said the people of ‘Eua hoped the government would fund the completion of the construction of classrooms at ‘Eua High School.

Two classrooms and a hall at GPS ‘Ohonua were constructed and it was expected it would be completed by May, he said.

An Education Assistant Officer at ‘Ohonua Government Primary School said there were six primary schools in ‘Eua.

She said there were only nine teachers at Angahā primary school to teach all its 361 students where as the ‘Ohonua primary school has 261 students for only six teachers.

She described the situation as a pity.

MAFF highlight

Lord Tu’ilakepa, the Minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forest, Fisheries (MAFF) had pinpointed some of the works his ministry has set out for the people of Eua.

He said pigsties and 500 chickens for egg production had been provided by the Ministry.

He said he had visited the chickens at the ‘Eua packing house and they had grown.

They were expected to be distributed shortly to the community.

A woman wanted to terminate Tonga’s annual Royal Agricultural Show, but the minister said this was the king’s project and it would be an opportunity for His Majesty to meet growers, farmers and handicrafts people. He said he has asked the Minister of Finance  to provide good presents and rewards for the winners at the show.

The Minister said there was only one staff member at the Fisheries office in ‘Eua and there was a need to recruit more staff there.

He said more boats for the Ministry were expected to arrive in ‘Eua shortly.

Sea zones

There were concerns about zoning the ‘Eua seas, but the Minister said other islands  benefitted from zoning their seas as it protected their fish and marine life from people from other islands. He said it was illegal for people from other islands to fish in zoned seas without permission.

The minister encouraged the ‘Eua growers to grow crops as the government was planning to pay for their produce before the Ministry sold them.

He said he found out fishers sold their fish at an open cement floor at ‘Ohonua and he undertook to build a building for them where they will use it to sell their fishing.

There was also a concern at the lack of staff at the ‘Eua prison and there were problems with its power and road which needed to be fixed. There was also need for more houses for the prison guards. The government said these issues would be fixed.

Mayor refuses to answer questions from furious public over Tongan worker housing scandal

By
Philip Cass
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The mayor of an Australian town at the centre of a scandal over accommodation for Tongan seasonal workers refused to say what legal action was being taken over the issue at a stormy public meeting last night.

As Kaniva news reported earlier, 77 Tongan seasonal workers were evacuated from a five bedroom house in shearwater due to overcrowding and inadequate conditions.

The ABC reported that Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney did not answer most questions from the floor and claimed the matter was subject to potential legal action.

Cr Freshney told the meeting he only found out about the situation in Shearwater on February 4 and acted as soon as he did.

He did not detail exactly what legal action was being taken in relation to the seasonal workers’ accommodation, but said other properties in the area were under investigation.

About 100 Latrobe residents attended the council meeting demanding answers from the council about its handling of the situation.

They demanded the Mayor “front up” and explain what was happening.

However, the Mayor claimed he did not want to put ratepayers at risk by letting them say anything that could prejudice future proceedings.

Unions

Australian unions said the workers’ employer, Costa, had committed what amounted to human rights abuse.

The Retail Supply Chain Alliance,  made up of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), the The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) and the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) called on the  Federal Government to review the compoany’s right to hire seasonal workers.

It said Costa should face significant penalties for breaching its employer responsibilities.

“What kind of employer allows their workers to live in slum-like conditions?” National Secretary of the AWU Daniel Walton said.

 “Employers like Costa are taking advantage of vulnerable people for profit and they deserve to face the full brunt of the law in this matter. Unfortunately, this is not a one off.”

“Our farm workers undertake back breaking work to deliver incredible produce to our supermarkets. They deserve to be treated with respect and have a safe working and home environment while they are in Australia.

“Our neighbours from the South Pacific would expect us to look after their citizens, not exploit them.”

Death

Last year Tongan worker Kalolo Kuea died at the Driscoll berry production company in Tasmania.

Fifteen Pacific islanders have reportedly died in the seasonal workers’ programme since it began 10 years ago.

The Brisbane Courier-Mail said extreme neglect was a factor in earlier deaths.

Noble denies bribery, firearms, perjury charges over Chinese passport scandal in Supreme Court

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges in the Supreme Court.

The Noble, who is also Tonga’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, was first charged in March 2018.

The charges stem from the Chinese passport scandal.

As Kaniva news reported last year, the court case has been postponed repeatedly since the noble’s first appearance in court.

Five of the charges he denied in court this week involved the acceptance of a bribe  by a government servant.

He also pleaded not guilty to making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport and perjury.

The other two charges he denied were for possession of a firearm – a .22 rifle – without a license and possession of 212 pieces of ammunition without a license.

It is alleged that between 2013-2014, while serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs, the king’s noble accepted money to issue Tongan passports to various Chinese nationals.

The amount involved ranged from  TP$3000 to TP$199,408.94.

He was accused of making a false statement on the grounds that on July 17, 2015 he wrote a letter to the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that Hua Guo and Ms Xing Lui were naturalised as Tongans on October 29, 2014.

On the charge of perjury, it was alleged that on December 21, 2015, he made an oath in an affidavit, stating that these two were naturalised during his tenure as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry and that naturalisation Tongan passports were then issued to them, knowing this statement was false.

The firearm and ammunition charges stemmed from a police search of his home 2018 in Nuku’alofa on March 1.

The trial is expected to run for four-weeks.

For more information

Lord Tu’ivakanō’s court case back in court

Research looked at ways to improve milk and meat production in New Zealand cattle industry

By
Philip Cass
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Dr Sangata Kaufononga’s doctoral research involved researching ryegrass  as a way of improving meat and milk production in cattle.

“There is this a common grass here in New Zealand grazed by the livestock called perennial ryegrass,” Dr Kaufononga said.

“It naturally harbours a fungus, or an endophyte known as Epichloë festucae var. lolii.

“They form a mutual relationship; grass offers habitat for the fungus and the fungus produces an array of alkaloids, some of which are beneficial by protecting the grass from insect pests, but some cause disease in grazing livestock.”

She said there was a high demand in the commercial market for a grass-endophyte association that could produce the good compounds and minimal or no detrimental effect.

“For that association to produce, the effect of the compounds produce in perennial ryegrass on insect pests and livestock should be fully understand,” Dr Kaufononga said.

A few novel endophytes in the commercial market, which resulted from research by AgResearch Ltd team, had already benefited the economy due to higher quality meat and milk productions.

“In my research, I analysed the compounds from perennial ryegrass, especially those at the early state at the biosynthetic pathway, by pulling them out from the grass and purify them individually,” she said.

“At pure form, the compounds were structurally elucidated and tested against porina larvae, an insect pest of perennial ryegrass.”

Her chief supervisor was Associate Professor Michèle Prinsep (Organic Chemist) from the University of Waikato. Her two supervisors from AgResearch Ltd were chemist/toxicologist Dr Sarah Finch and entomologist Dr Alison Popay.

“I am very grateful for all their patience, guidance and encouragement,” she said.

Dr Kaufononga’s research was fully funded by the New Zealand Crown Research Institute AgResearch.

“This great opportunity was through networking with my chief supervisor and with the skills I acquired during my master’s study,” she said.

“I believe the key for the unveiling hidden opportunities is communication. Ask and shall be given, look and shall be find and knock and the door shall be opened.

“This great support opened various doors for me in terms of my career as a chemist and scientist.”

Dr Kaufononga has already co-authored a number of scientific publications and said she would love to carry on more research.

“I had experienced being a teacher and I would like to experience a different career but that will depend on the door that God will open for me to take,” she said.

The main points

  • Dr Kaufononga’s doctoral research involved researching ryegrass as a way of improving meat and milk production in cattle.
  • She said she was grateful for her supervisors’ patience, guidance and encouragement.

Tongan scientist urges high school students to adopt positive view of STEM subjects; says commitment and resilience are key to success

By
Philip Cass
-

A Tongan scientist has urged Tongan students to add their name to those of the few Pasifika in the field.

Dr Sangata Kaufononga, who recently became the first Tongan to obtain a PhD in Chemistry from University of Waikato, said that if students had the potential to make a career in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM), they should go for it.

And she said that watching her father working on the family plantation as  a child was what opened her eyes to science.

Dr Kaufononga said she was worried that fewer Tongan students were taking STEM subjects.

She urged the Tongan Ministry of Education to investigate what could be done to promote the interest of the students in the subject. She said few Pacific students opted for STEM subjects at school.

She asked students to have a positive mindset about the subjects.

“The normal response for these subjects is that they are difficult,” Dr Kaufononga said.

“That is not right. If you are still hanging on to this negative assumption, then there is no way you are going to be successful in STEM.

“It’s a matter of commitment, resilience, respect, honesty, humility and excellence. As a scientist, STEM subjects are the best.”

Dr Kaufononga said it was a pleasure knowing she was the first member of her extended family to obtain a doctorate.

“To God be the glory,” she said.

She said she hoped to be a role model for younger Pasifika students and their parents as well.

“Education is possible at any time,” she said.

Plantation

Dr Kaufononga said her interest in science began when she was little.

“My dad, Siketi Mailangi always spent his time in his plantations and looking after his livestock, as the main source of financial income to support us in our education and our everyday spending,” she said.

“Most of the time we helped him in the plantation and interacting with the natural resources open my eyes to realise that science surrounds us all the time, it was the driving force of my interest in the area.

“Science and mathematics were always my favourite subjects, it’s in our family gene; my younger brother is a nurse and some of my uncles and cousins are teachers in the area.”

Dr Kaufononga became a secondary school teacher in Tonga after obtaining a Diploma in Education from Tongan teacher’s college and a BSc in chemistry and mathematics from the University of the south Pacific in Fiji.

“Further education was always a priority to me as it’s the golden key to unlock future opportunities for my family,” she said.

In 2009 she lost her mother and a younger sister and brother in the MV Ashika tragedy.

Promise

“Seeing my dad struggling, I promised myself that I would explore my academic potential to the fullest so that I could help my own family, but also help my dad and my siblings as well,” she said.

“In 2010, my husband and three children aged five to two moved to Hamilton.

“I went back to the University of Waikato in the beginning of 2011 while our fourth child was three months old and started a Graduate Certificate, then a master’s degree and a doctorate, all majoring in Chemistry.”

Both she and her husband were studying. When asked how they managed their studies and supported each other while raising four children, she replied: “It’s not about how much we do but how much love we put into what we do that counts.”

“We set our studies as a short-term sacrifice for the long-term benefits of our young children and our family.

“I first went back to study while David worked night shift to support us financially and at the time, our four children were very young.

“In 2014, after my master’s degree, I got a scholarship from AgResearch Ltd to carry on my PhD. My stipend was just enough to put bread on our table, so we decided for my husband to do his master’s degree in mathematics

“It was not an easy decision, but we worked together and shared the responsibilities in looking after the kids in order to fit in with our study timetables.

“The best time for us to review our study was after putting them to bed every night and their precious faces were and still are the main inspiration of our studies.

“We were so grateful the we can survive with bread and second-hand clothes. David went back to work after graduating with his master’s degree.”

Blessing

Both she and her husband were given Tertiary Achievement in Pacfic Ako awards; her husband in 2014-15 and hers in 2012-2018.

“It was a blessing to achieve such awards and it eased some of the financial stress.”

Community

Dr Kaufononga said she was “speechless” at the level of support from the Tongan community in Hamilton.

“The community is always our second family away from home,” she said.

“The supports from them define who we are as a Pasifika in New Zealand. I am always looking forward for a community event because I get to meet other Tongans and Pacific islanders here in Hamilton.

“They always reminded of my roots and empower me to carry on with my dreams in this country.”

The main points

  • A Tongan scientist has urged Tongan students to add their name to those of the few Pasifika in the field.
  • Dr Sangata Kaufononga, who recently became the first Tongan to obtain a PhD in Chemistry, that if students had the potential to make a career in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM), they should go for it.
  • And she said that watching her father working on the family plantation as  a child was what opened her eyes to science.

Australia’s largest berry producer condemned for allowing Tongan seasonal workers to live in slum-like conditions

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A number of Tongans in Australia who are there on that country’s Seasonal Worker Programme were part of 70 workers housed in a single home in Tasmania.

The property in which they were living in has been described as “slum-like” and their employer, Costa, “are taking advantage of vulnerable people for profit.”

Their treatment amounts to human rights abuse and Costa  should face significant penalties for breaching its responsibilities, an Australian Alliance has said.

A report by The Australian Workers’ Union said The Retail Supply Chain Alliance is calling on the Federal Government to review its right to hire seasonal workers.

In its report the Union said: “The seasonal workers, who are mostly from Tonga, were being housed in a property just outside Port Sorell in Northern Tasmania and were paying $100 each a week in rent, amounting to over $7000 per week. Similar homes rent for around $600 a week.”

The Shearwater home was run as a Bed & Breakfast until it was sold in October 2018.

“What kind of employer allows their workers to live in slum-like conditions?” said Daniel Walton, National Secretary of the AWU.

“These are people who were too afraid to speak up because they were scared of losing their jobs.”

“Employers like Costa are taking advantage of vulnerable people for profit and they deserve to face the full brunt of the law in this matter. Unfortunately, this is not a one off.”

“There is a systemic and endemic problem across our food supply chain affecting not just seasonal workers but many thousands of backpackers who are often working illegally and being chronically under-paid.

“That’s why we are determined to stamp it out by working together with responsible employers to protect workers and put a stop to visa exploitation,”

Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary of the SDA, added: “It’s hard to imagine 20 people living in one property, let alone more than 70 and charging them $100 a week, this is a disgrace and an abuse of human rights. We should all be ashamed that this is happening in Australia in 2020.

“Our farm workers undertake back breaking work to deliver incredible produce to our supermarkets. They deserve to be treated with respect and have a safe working and home environment while they are in Australia.

“I think Australian shoppers will be horrified to discover that the berries they eat every day come as a result of worker exploitation at its very worst level.”

Workers, who were working in two shifts, were having to hotbed due to the shortage of space and bunk beds. They were rescued after a tip off from neighbours who had complained about an overflowing septic tank on the four-acre property.

They have been moved to temporary accommodation nearby after being evicted by Latrobe Council.

A team from the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business is now in Tasmania to conduct an investigation into Costa, which produces the nationwide brand of Driscoll berries, and Owen Pacific, which manages labor hire for Costa.

Michael Kaine, National Secretary of the TWU, said: “We need Costa to stand up and take responsibility so this never happens again. These workers were employed under the Government’s Seasonal Workers Program which is meant to protect workers from overseas and ensure they are being paid the same rate as a worker from Australia and be housed in ‘reasonable conditions’.

“I’d challenge anyone to say that putting 70 plus people into just one house is reasonable. They were being treated worse than animals and Costa needs to be aware of how its workers are living and do thorough checks.

“Its negligence is just shocking. Our neighbours from the South Pacific would expect us to look after their citizens, not exploit them.”

-This story originally appeared on https://www.awu.net.au/

Seven arrested with illicit drugs and $3000 cash in Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police have arrested seven people in Vainī and seized 37.44 grams of methamphetamine, 201.67 grams of cannabis and over TOP$3,000 cash.

The seven arrested includes five men between the ages of 28 to 45 and two women aged 18 and 20.

All of the accused are from Vaini and they were remanded in custody while investigation continues.

A/Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea said that these arrests showed that those who were seeking to profit from the harm these drugs could cause can continue to expect to be targeted by Police.

“Drugs have no place in our community; they destroy the lives of the users, harming our children and our communities. We hope these arrests will bring some reassurance to the community,” Vailea said.

“A/DC Vailea has acknowledged the hard work and dedication of staff who were involved in the seizures, and their commitment to intercepting the supply of these harmful drugs, keeping our communities safe and protected.”

He urged anyone who has information on drug dealing in our communities to contact Police on 22784.

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