Samoa’s biggest private employer, Yazaki Eds Samoa Ltd, is no more. The company shut its doors officially on Friday. This has left as many as 700 people without jobs. Where to from here? Lizzy Hunt asked people in today’s Street Talk and this is what they said:

Clara Moeva, 20 Vaiusu

I have a lot of relatives who have been working over at the Yazaki. So this is a very sad development. Yazaki has been a lifeline for Samoa and many people for so long and now that they are gone, there is a big void.  For me with Yazaki gone, I suggest that all these people start look for new jobs or better yet, time for the plantation.

Andrew Letoa, 20 Faleasiu

I feel sad for these poor people, especially their families. I don’t blame Yazaki company because it’s just the way the world is right now. I think the government has a responsibility to find some jobs for these people or at least create some employment opportunities. This news is very sad.

Joe Moana, 18 Vaitele 

I think the solution is to turn to working the land if they can’t other jobs. It’s sad but there is nothing we can do about it. I believe there is still plenty of money to be made from working the land. Easy money, like me, I was a student at the Nuuausala College, but after year 13 I decided to stay home and this is my life now, taking care of my family and going to the plantation every day. It’s good money.

Silia Samuelu, 47, Saleimoa

As a worker, if I had known that Yazaki was about to be closed for good, I would have been prepared for what’s next. We have to be ready for anything. This is a sad situation, a lot of people who worked there will surely struggle especially parents whose children and their schools depended on them. 

Kaisara Itoa, 27 Faleasiu 

It is the government’s responsibility to help these people. For me, the situation is heartbreaking, especially as these people are the ones their families depend so much for money and food. This is a sad time for Samoa but this is also a time for the government to do something.

Leota Mailei, 58 Moamoa fou

I heard about the closing down of Yazaki a while back. For me, this is a tragedy for those workers who had been there all their working lives. I think the only thing to do is they should start looking for new jobs. For others, there is always the plantation if they can’t find formal work. I think we need to pray for solutions.