Pacific Labour Scheme meat worker saves $17k and builds dream house

A Pacific Labour Scheme meat worker, Peni Ramanumanu who was laid off in Fiji because of COVID-19 saved $17,000 while working for 10 months in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Australia and built a house for his family.

Ramanumanu who is from Nakoroivau in Tailevu was one of the workers mobilised to Australia in January this year.

He says before he left Fiji, they discussed as a family that their main goal during his first year of engagement was to build a better house for them.

Ramanumanu saved the money and bought building materials for the construction of his house.

He says they constructed their dream house within a month.

Ramanumanu says one must have a clear mindset, minimise unnecessary spending, focus on the need and not on the luxury things of life.

He has commended the Money Minders training conducted by ANZ during the Pre-Departure Orientation training that assisted him.

Prior to getting selected under the Pacific Labour Scheme program, Ramanumanu worked as a sales representative for a business in Nausori before being laid off due to the pandemic.