27 Jun 2005

American Samoa's Governor says the territory should not reveiw wages every two years

12:16 pm on 27 June 2005

American Samoa's Governor, Togiola Tulafono, has told the federal committee reviewing minimum wages that the real challenge lies with creating and importing jobs that pay above the minimum wage.

He asked the committee to look at the evidence and make a finding that the potential of raising minimum wages every two years has a potentially negative impact on economic development.

While the goal of the biennial meeting is the gradual raising of the local minimum wage to match that of the U.S, Togiola said there are local economic and developmental constraints.

The Governor said in order to maintain stability in the Territory's year-to-year dealings, he proposed that American Samoa work with the U.S. Department of Labor to find a more workable time frame.