13 Aug 2007

Samoa warns anyone overstaying in New Zealand puts relatives' visas at risk

6:21 am on 13 August 2007

The Samoan government is warning relatives of seasonal workers who overstay their permits in New Zealand, that they could have difficulty having their own visas approved.

The CEO for Cabinet and the Prime Minister's Office, Auseugaefa Poloma Komiti, says apart from immediate deportation, the penalty for a worker overstaying in New Zealand, is that they will never be accepted by the Regional Seasonal Work Scheme again.

He says a worker's family and relatives will also never be accepted again by the RSE or be permitted to work in New Zealand through RSE.

Auseugaefa has told the Samoa Observer that this is the price the workers will pay for failing to abide by the rules.

He says seasonal workers who violate the rules will make it harder for workers to be recruited from Samoa under the seasonal work scheme.

Auseugaefa says the scheme is beneficial for Samoa , providing Samoans an opportunity to work in New Zealand and raise money for their families.

The next group of seasonal workers should begin work in September.