Dear Editor, I find this quite selfish and inconsiderate (Expats seek minimum wage increase to match rising costs, March 8, 2024). I wonder if these people have ever made these types of complaints back in their own countries.

Businesses in the Cook Islands made the decision to bring in foreign workers not the people of the Cook Islands.

My decision to bring in foreign workers should never ever have any impact on the people of the Cook Islands and their way of life.

Please don’t disrespect and take advantage of our full democracy, hospitality and friendly nature. The Cook Islands is a very small nation with a few businesses enough for a small population.

Cook Islanders are very new into business and had to start with minimal business experience/training and no capital. We’re trying to survive ourselves and yet we manage to offer employment to foreigners with a minimum wage of $9 an hour. In my view, truly amazing.

Minimum wage in Fiji is less than NZ$3 and Philippines is even lower.

Also read: Public submissions open for national minimum wage review

> Expats seek minimum wage increase to match rising costs

Minimum wage in the USA is US$7.25 per hour and yet this is the richest country in the world with hundreds of years of business history.

The number of positions available in the Cook Islands is very small but the choice to employ from around the world are in the millions.

A fact to think about.

1. Cook Islands minimum wage of $9 is only a starting point. It’s up to an employee to prove their value and if a business is able, I’m sure rate will go up.
2. The cost of employing a foreigner is in reality already around $12 an hour. There are the costs of agent fees, airfares, permits, sick leave, public holidays, annual holiday, super, repatriation, training, upskilling etc.
3. We ourselves try our best to look after all our employees and pay extra when deserved and possible. (Bearing in mind we are small timers)
4. We’ve worked with some hard working, honest and very pleasant foreigners. We’ve also had the unfortunate experience of the opposite.
5. Many of our foreign workers have purchased land and apartments in their countries which confirms it can’t be that bad here.
6. A huge percentage of foreign workers like to consume a lot of alcohol and that can be costly and create other problems.
7. Employees are always welcome to terminate their contracts and go home if they feel our way of life is not up to their standard.
8. Lastly, stop demanding the same rights as New Zealanders in regard to PR (permanent residency). Cook Islanders are privileged to be New Zealand citizens and I’ll leave it at that.

I would like to reiterate that all foreign employees come to the Cook Islands under an employment contract only and no more. Strictly business.

Yours sincerely,

Ellena Tavioni