A 37-year-old father of two from Poutasi, Taavao Lefua Taavao who has been blessed with seasonal work opportunities for seven years has urged the workers to use their opportunities wisely.

Ta'avao used to work in hotels, mainly the ones close by his village until he opened a new chapter and joined the Falealili Seasonal work programme under the Recognised Seasonal Work scheme in New Zealand in 2017.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Ta'avao said this is the seventh time he has traveled to New Zealand for seasonal work and explained that through the seasonal work program, he made his family's life better.

"To me it's on the person himself or herself on what outcomes they can get from the seasonal employment. But for me alone, it has helped me a lot, especially my family," he said.

"I managed to upgrade the living standard of my family, especially financially and I can already see the bright future for my children through this programme.

"It has blessed me in so many ways. I got to renovate our home, bought a car, and everything else that needed financial assistance in my family."

Asked for his perspectives which has been causing several issues affecting seasonal workers and in the seasonal work system, Taavao said it's the lack of knowledge and understanding of their jobs and the person for not using the opportunity wisely.

"There are so many challenges we face as seasonal workers and one is the lack of understanding of the contract they signed.

"Sometimes you sign the contract agreeing to work on rainy days then you suddenly don't want to work on a rainy day when you get there and you stay home because you don't want to work on a rainy day.

"The other challenge is families overseas convincing their relatives who are coming for seasonal work to find new employment or come stay with them without considering the contract that was signed in Samoa.

"The other one is married men and women cheating on their spouses who are back home in Samoa. That challenge barely happens with our group because we don't have girls there but in Australia, there are."

Due to all of these challenges, Ta'avao urged all aspiring seasonal workers and current ones to make the most of the opportunity as it can bring a bright future for themselves and their families as it did for him.

The father of two is scheduled to depart Samoa again on Monday for seasonal work alongside over 400 other men under the Falealili seasonal work program.