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Amata introduces 3 separate bills dealing with min wage

Congresswoman Aumua Amata has confirmed that federal legislation has been introduced to extend the current moratorium, or waiver, on the minimum wage hike, with the next 50 cent per hour increase set for Sept. 30.

 

According to Congressional online records Amata introduced three separate bills dealing with minimum wage, with the first on May 26, seeking to amend a provision of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 to postpone a scheduled increase in the minimum wage applicable to American Samoa until 2016.

 

On the same day, the second bill was introduced “to stop a scheduled increase in the minimum wage applicable to American Samoa and to provide that any future increases in such minimum wage shall be determined by the government of American Samoa.

 

The third one was introduced June 3 to postpone the next wage increase until 2017. All three measures have since been referred to the US House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

 

The canneries, along with the private sector have all voiced concerns over the impact to the local economy if the next federally mandated wage increase goes into effect. While the Lolo Administration advocates better wages for the local workforce, it is also concerned that future wage hikes will seriously impact the tuna canneries, the economic backbone of the territory.

 

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Amata said she has introduced legislation to extend the waiver — for one year — and “I am working with [Congressional] leadership to get it passed. I am confident that we will get it done before September 30th.”

 

She explained, “One year is the minimum amount of time that Congress will need to formulate and pass a long term solution to the issue,” adding that “bottom line is, our people should be paid a fair wage for their work, while maintaining the ability of industry to remain competitive. That is the end goal.”

 

Asked what happens if Congress is unable to take any action to delay the next wage hike, Amata said, “That would be devastating to our local economy and I am doing everything I can to make sure that does not happen. As I said, I am confident that we will get it done.”

 

The American Samoa congresswoman shared the same information on the one-year extension of the moratorium when she appeared — for the first time since taking office in January — before the local Senate, to discuss several issues including the minimum wage.

 

Although supportive of a hike in wages, Amata said that there is also the concern which has been raised by local leaders, of the impact such increase will have on the canneries. She also noted that one of the canneries — Tri Marine International, which has invested millions of dollars in the territory — has just started out and they should be given support in order for them to succeed.

 

“I support a wage increase, but the question that comes to mind is — isn’t it better to have a small pay check than no pay check at all?” she said, adding that she continues to work with the US House leadership so that the moratorium will be continued for one year.

 

As to whether the federal government can provide financial assistance to fund future wage hikes, as suggested by the governor, Amata informed senators that any new money added to American Samoa’s allocation must first go through President Obama’s annual budget proposal before it’s sent to Congress.

 

And because of federal sequestration, a cap has been placed on all budget funding amounts and therefore cannot go over those caps, she said. However, Congress is authorized to move money from one area of a budget to another area to fund a specific financial request.

 

Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean asked Amata if the determination of minimum wage increases can be returned to American Samoa (where the wage will be determined based on local economic conditions).

 

(Prior to the 2007 federal law dealing with American Samoa wages, a federally appointed commission, made up of federal, local and industry representatives, would review and set minimum wages hikes for American Samoa’s workforce every two years.)

 

Amata responded that she is in favor of having wages determined locally, and the changes necessary to return it to American Samoa can be made within the one-year extension of the moratorium.

 

However, she says the the “mechanism used by previous commissions to set wages needs to be changed to allow enough time for workers to provide their input.”

 

She said previous commissions would approve only a one-cent or two-cent hike, and that’s not enough for the working person to care for their families.

 

“We have to fix the mechanism and make a new, improved version so that our workers can have a greater voice in the process — and the people, not only the people who earn the wages, but the people who pay the wages, they have to work together as a team for the betterment of our people,” Amata said.

 

The Chamber of Commerce has also suggested re-establishing such a commission, whose members would include the private sector, ASG and federal members to review the local wage.