The United States Pacific territories of American Samoa and the Northern Marianas have again called for delays to increases in the minimum wage.
Planned increases were postponed in both territories for 2010 and this year.
During a House Subcommittee meeting last week, leaders and businessmen urged another delay in the 50-cent minimum hikes for 2012 until the economies of the CNMI and American Samoa improve.
The American Samoa governor Togiola Tulafono says the suspension of the minimum wage increases should be extended indefinitely or until more satisfactory procedures are implemented.
The American Samoa US Congressman, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, also pledged to do everything he can to halt further hikes, to allow the government sufficient time to put an action plan in place.
The chief executive of StarKist Samoa, Ing Soo Cho, has also strongly urged Congress to delay the next scheduled increase.
