Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

REICH APPOINTS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW MINIMUM WAGE RATES IN AMERICAN SAMOA Thurs., May 25, 1995

For more information call: (202) 2l9-8743.

Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich today announced the appointment of six members of the committee selected to review current minimum wage rates for all industries in American Samoa covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal wage and hour law.

The committee hearing is open to the public. It will begin June l2, l995, in Pago, American Samoa.

The committee consists of two members each selected to represent the public sector, employers, and employees. Joseph Sharnoff, the chair, and Soliai T. Fuimaono are public representatives. Patricia R. Letuli and Brian W. Leamy are employer representatives, and John Zalusky and Moaaliitele Tuufuli are employee representatives.

The FLSA provides that minimum wage rates in American Samoa may be established by special industry committees at rates below that required on the mainland. The current mainland minimum wage is $4.25 an hour.

After public hearings to review local economic conditions and testimony from interested parties, the committee will determine whether Samoan minimum wage rates - currently $2.25 to $3.50 an hour - should be increased or should remain at current levels. Wage rates cannot be decreased.

The committee will recommend to the Labor Department the highest rate for each industry that will not substantially curtail employment and will not give industries in the territory a competitive advantage over similar mainland businesses. These recommendations will be published in the Federal Register and take effect l5 days after publication.

Nearly 8,000 public and private employees in American Samoa are protected by FLSA, including most of the approximately 2,700 employees of the Government of American Samoa. Tuna canning, the major private sector industry, employs more than 3,900 workers in two canneries.

The FLSA provides for minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor standards and is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the department's Employment Standards Administration.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.