WA skills shortage: Italian Southern Roasting Co. manager Ruiglent Tuci faced with potential deportation

In the face of a Statewide skills shortage the manager of a beloved Manjimup cafe could have his application for permanent residency denied for a second time and be forced to leave the town that “left a legacy in his soul”. Known throughout the Manjimup community for his sharp barista skills and “happy, bubbly and delightful” personality, 37 year-old Italian immigrant Ruiglent Tuci has been in Australia with his Taiwanese wife Karen for nearly nine years. The pair reside in the regional town under the authority of a bridging visa, following the refusal of their regional sponsorship visa in 2019 and inability to leave the country because of the pandemic. Their potential deportation comes as WA faces a skilled worker shortage crisis as well as Premier Mark McGowan’s recruitment drive in Europe to try to draw workers to the State. Feeling the sting of the shortage firsthand as manager of Manjimup cafe Southern Roasting Co. Mr Tuci said the whole industry is facing staffing issues. “Just the other day we were understaffed, so I stayed longer — I am the manager I have to look after the business you know — and we have been understaffed for a long time,” he said. “The funny thing is the Premier just called for 3000 Italians to come here and we have one in Manjimup and I want to stay.” “I would love to stay in the regions, the regional area need people now more than before, it is hard to come to Australia with a visa at the moment because of COVID.” No stranger to the visa acquisition process Mr Tuci said he and his wife always “do the right thing” and follow the law but described the bureaucracy as making him feel like a “piece of meat”. “I feel like I am a piece of meat to be honest, like I am just a number,” he said. “You grow up with a visa and another visa and it becomes expensive . . . I understand they need to protect Australia but when you do all the right things, following the law, it is still hard.” Rallying together in the hope it will strengthen the couple’s July 15 appeal the Manjimup community has been writing letters of support to strengthen their case. Mr Tuci said he was not looking for notoriety but is “very appreciative” of the support and did not expect such a big response from the community. “We have to move forward, I am getting old and looking to have a child with my wife, life is tough we just do the right thing and hope to get (approved) I am just grateful this community is supporting my case I feel touched,” he said. “Manjimup has left a lot of legacy in my soul, I will bring it with my heart all the time, I have met the most beautiful people there.”