Home away from home

Some expat workers believe they’re more secure in Rarotonga than in their home country during this COVID-19 crisis.

Fijians residing there are exempted from transit visas through New Zealand if they wish to return to their home country.

But now some prefer staying in Rarotonga, saying they feel more secure there than in Fiji during this COVID-19 crisis.

A week ago, Cook Island Prime Minister Henry Puna said some leading employers wanted to release expat workers who wished to return to their home countries.

He told the Cook Islands’ Parliament that their government supported this move as it would conserve the “limited resources” it has at its disposal to support Cook Islanders during the COVID-19 crisis.

However, repatriating workers was impossible, because the borders to countries where most of these foreign workers come from, were still closed.

Fijian Association vice president Savenaca Tukitoba said they were not aware of any Fijian work permit holders there being made redundant at any of the hotels.

“What we do understand at the moment is that everyone is on a wage subsidy, and we are still safe, secure and are more advantaged than those affected at home. I believe the Cook Islands government will decide that if they think we are no longer needed here then definitely will arrange a flight for us,” Mr Tukitoba said.

But Liana Scott, the vice president of Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council, said if the situation continues, they would have no choice but to let go of their expat workers. Businesses that have closed as well as those that are remaining open with little to no business, still have ongoing operational costs and ultimately with no clear open date, nor commitment from government to cover wage subsidies, past September businesses need to individually review and formulate strategies that are going to allow them to survive, she said.

Ms Scott pointed out one of these strategies “sadly it is likely to reduce the workforce, particularly as properties are unlikely to be operating at the normally enjoyed occupancies during these winter months”.

She said it makes sense for the Government to look at the repatriation of expat workers.