21 Jan 2017

Guam governor vetoes minimum wage raise

5:52 pm on 21 January 2017
Guam's governor, Eddie Calvo.

Guam's governor, Eddie Calvo. Photo: Office of the Governor of Guam

Guam's governor has vetoed legislation that would have incrementally raised the territory's minimum wage over the next two years.

Instead, Eddie Calvo has submitted his own measure that proposes a one-off 95 cent increase.

The Pacific Daily News reports that under the proposed bill, the minimum wage would have increased incrementally to US$9.20 on 1 May, then to US$10.10 on 1 May, 2018.

But Mr Calvo says the bill was premature as the government is still waiting on a report into the impacts of the last minimum wage increase in 2015.

Under his own proposed bill, there would instead be a one-off increase to US$9.20 after the report is released, and includes other caveats that would prevent employers reducing hours or benefits.