American Samoa's member of the US Congress Aumua Amata says a low minimum wage will help local businesses in the territory to survive.
The introduction of the American Samoa Jobs Protection and Expansion Act will allow a special industry committee to set the local minimum wage, under the direction of the US Department of Labor.
This would remove a requirement to keep the local minimum wage, which currently sits at around $US5.16
US Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen. Photo: radewagen.house.gov
In American Samoa, the local minimum has been rising incrementally since 2007, on target to reach the currently $US7.25 federal minimum wage.
Aumua said the rising minimum wage placed the territory on unequal footing with competitors who have no minimum wage.
Following the closure of one of American Samoa's two tuna canneries in December, Aumua said the bill is crucial if the remaining cannery is to remain open.
