Samoan Cinderellas slave for families

Two young Samoan women say they feel trapped and despair of their future after being forced to work in factories and then hand over their entire earnings to relatives.

Like modern-day Cinderellas, they are not allowed out on their own at night and are made to clean their houses and look after younger members of their extended family.

The Herald met the two teens after their employer contacted the paper, which had run a story about the causes of Samoan suicide - including the pressure, especially on young women, to act as de facto parents and hand over earnings to adults.

The pair, who work at his East Tamaki factory, said they were happy to be named "because we are telling the truth" but the Weekend Herald has protected their identities because of family violence.

Their employer, who emigrated from Britain in 1988, said he was concerned that the young women were effectively being used as slaves.

"I thought slavery was abolished until I got here."

He tells how the uncle of one "stood over" the 19-year-old in the carpark of the food-processing factory and demanded that she sign up to a car purchase agreement for him.

Using the alias of Faati, the young woman told the Herald she would like to use her hard-earned money to buy herself a car and some new clothes, but her aunt and grandmother controlled the cash card to her bank account where all her wages were paid.

Faati rarely sees a cent of her pay.

"I sometimes ask where the money goes but they just say nothing."

She has worked at the factory for two years, earning $12 an hour from 6am to 2.30pm.

Her 17-year-old friend, who wants to be called Lera, earns $9.50 an hour and her pay is similarly directed to a bank account she is not allowed to touch.

Her mother and stepfather keep her cash card and tell her they use the money "for family stuff", she says.

The same deal applies to Lera's 18-year-old brother.

Faati and Lera have become close friends who share their problems.

They feel powerless and know other young people in similar situations.

Faati says she is forced to go to church or else she will not get any money for things she needs.

She says her aunt spoils her own daughter, who is allowed a car while Faati is forced to stay home and look after her younger cousins.

Faati, whose parents are in Apia, says she has thought of running away, going to police and even suicide.

Lera nods in agreement: "It stinks."