Friday 17 October 2025, Apia Samoa. Patients at Samoa’s Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) national hospital in Motootua were left without breakfast on Thursday morning after kitchen staff failed to show up for work. Kitchen staff who usually start work in the early hours of the morning to ensure the first meal of the day is distributed throughout the hospital had instead taken a trip to the Minister of Health regarding unpaid overtime salaries.
Ulugia Dr Tito Kamu has spoken out in an interview with TV1 Samoa last night, shedding light on a situation that has cumulated over 11 weeks of unpaid overtime.
Dr Kamu pointed out that kitchen staff are on low salary levels, and overtime pay is crucial for their weekly budgets.
It is reported that Motootua hospital kitcken staff receive salaries as low as $150 tala per week or approximately $3.75 per hour or annual gross wages of $7,800.
The proposed Government budget proposes a minimum wage increase to a little over $4/hour.
The Minister of Health, Hon Va’aaoao Salumalo Alofipo has not yet made a public statement, however, it is understood the situation has since been resolved, and the staff returning to work today.
It is also reported by patients that the issue had only affected some patient wards for breakfast and not all, while lunch and dinner were provided as normal.
Private caterers were called in to provide meals for patients on Thursday.
Acting Director General of Health, Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen said two private caterers were called in to cover the short lived staff strike, adding that the miscommunication regarding overtime pay had been resolved.
Dr Thomsen assured all staff positions were secure and nobody has been affected by the stance taken by kitchen staff yesterday.
“Everyone still has their job.”
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