The American Samoan Congressman, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, is asking the U.S. Department of Interior to partner with the U.S. Labour Department in a study on the impact of the new minimum wage rules on the economies of American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.
The Bureau of Labour Statistics is to submit an impact report to Congress early next year.
Faleomavaega says the report will be critical in determining whether or not American Samoa is able to end escalator clauses which now require that minimum wages be increased annually by $0.50 per hour.
He supports a one-time increase, but says the escalating clause has been forced on the territories without the knowledgte of how it will impact on them.
