Air Vanuatu staff member dies without entitlements

May 18, 2025 10:07 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

The Daily Post has received information confirming that Jarrod Ritchie, a long-serving member of Air Vanuatu’s Australian team, died earlier this year without receiving his full legal entitlements.
An insider said tributes flowed in for Jarrod Ritchie, a dedicated member of Air Vanuatu’s Australian team, who passed away following a prolonged battle with cancer.
“Ritchie, who was well known at Air Vanuatu’s Sydney office, is remembered by colleagues and industry peers for his professionalism and commitment, even during the most difficult periods of his illness.
Remarkably, Ritchie continued to support the airline’s operations, particularly the management of the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP), from his hospital bed while undergoing chemotherapy cancer treatment.
“Ritchie was the kind of person who put people and others above his own pain,” said a former colleague.
As part of his duties, Ritchie processed all the bookings for Vanuatu Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers. Under the scheme, the farms or the labour hire firms in Australia pay for the workers’ airfares upfront. The workers then repay the cost of their airfares over a period of time. Ritchie played a vital role in coordinating this logistical support, ensuring smooth travel arrangements for thousands of Ni-Vanuatu workers each season.
However, Ritchie did not receive his full legal entitlements prior to his passing. The shortfall is attributed to alleged mismanagement and poor record-keeping by the Air Vanuatu Head Office Management in Port Vila.
Despite the airline’s operational collapse, those responsible still remain in their positions, prompting calls for a review into the handling of multiple employee legal entitlements from Air Vanuatu.
“It’s heartbreaking that Ritchie, who continued to work through his cancer treatment and dedicated himself to supporting thousands of RSE workers, was ultimately let down by the Executive Management of Air Vanuatu — the very people who should have stood by him,” said his sister, Fiona.
Ritchie’s passing is not only a personal loss to those who knew him, but also a reminder of the human cost behind the corporate mismanagement of Air Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu Government was contacted but is yet to respond.