Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADMINISTRATION

MINIMUM WAGE RATES INCREASED FOR AMERICAN SAMOA

Mon., Sept. 25, 1995

For more information call: 202/219- 8743.

Mandatory minimum wage rates for American Samoa will increase Thursday, Sept. 28, the U.S. Labor Department announced today.

A special six-member industry committee appointed by Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich met in Pago Pago, American Samoa, in June. The committee, composed of two members representing the public, employers and employees, reviewed the economic conditions in American Samoa and heard public testimony before it made its binding recommendations.

In tuna canning, the chief Samoan industry, the required minimum wage rates will rise to $3.10 per hour effective July 1, 1996, an increase of 5 cents per hour.

Minimum wage rates for the other covered private-sector industries in the territory will increase by a range of 5 to 25 cents per hour effective Sept. 28, 1995 and by another 10 to 15 cents on July 1, 1996. The wage rates for all government employees will increase to $2.45 per hour effective Oct. 1, 1996.

The industry committee meets biennially to recommend an alternative to the automatic application of the mainland minimum wage rate, and to gradually increase rates to the mainland level without adverse effect on the Samoan economy or on job opportunities. The current mainland minimum wage is $4.25 an hour.

Authority for this special industry committee procedure is contained in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, administered by the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department's Employment Standards Administration.

Notice of the new American Samoa wage rates was published in the Federal Register on September 13, 1995.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.