In Saturday 22 April’s front page story (Labour shortage), it stated that we have a labour shortage problem “more so here than in Tonga or Samoa”.

Without seeing any statistics or data, I have no doubt that the comment made by the Asian Development Bank’s public management economist was correct.  

But I didn’t know that Tonga or Samoa actually had labour shortages.  

Those two countries contribute to New Zealand’s RSC and Australia’s PALM labour schemes and it is my understanding that there isn’t a shortage of applicants for the very reason that there are not enough jobs in their respective countries! 

Moana Moeka’a 

Ruatonga