Siaosi who has just returned to Samoa after three years in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM) is aiming to buy a fishing boat to help with the financial needs of his family.

He has a lot of plans and he hopes to achieve them through the money he earns from his work overseas.

He is one of the many success stories who have been able to make a better life through seasonal work.

“If I get another opportunity, I will look at an extension to include bedrooms and a bathroom for my family home,” he said.

“Because we live by the sea, I am aiming to purchase a fishing boat. Fishing can be another source of income. This is my long-term dream, and I know that I can achieve this if I put my trust in God - those are my plans.”

He is currently unemployed but he is generating income from his family plantation, he credits the income he earned while in Australia for work.

“During this long break from seasonal work, we have our crops to fall back onto. Our family owns a lot of land, and we are planning to fence off sections of land for our crops such as taro and banana,” he said.

“With the money I sent over, my family has been able to do many things they want such as fencing for the cattle farm.

“We take our produces to the market, and this serves as supplementary income, which is a big support.”

He has plans of extending their taro and banana plantation and set up a pig farm in the back of their house for another source of income.

Siaosi was able to achieve all these through his budgeting skills.

“I set up three different accounts. I put aside money into an account that I canʻt withdraw, the other account is for my daily expenses and the other is for rent.”

There has been a reported increase in the demand for seasonal workers in Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, the Samoan government has introduced new policies for the recruitment of seasonal workers. District councils and agents have to pay a registration fee.