Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Before 2a.m. yesterday local time, the US Department of Labor had already released the updated American Samoa Minimum Wage poster, that includes the new federally mandated 40-cents per hour hike in all 17 different industry classifications — effective Sept. 30.

Federal law requires employers to display the poster where employees can readily see it. In addition to the usual English version, USDOL’s Wage and Hour Division also released the Samoan version of the poster, which is to ensure that Samoan workers are fully aware of their rights under federal law.

As first reported by Samoa News in 2016, a USDOL official said in an interview of the “historical” move by the federal agency —and that was translating into the Samoan language important materials dealing with wage and hour issues, including the minimum wage listings for American Samoa, and the minimum wage poster.

For the new 2021 posters, they also provide summary information on issues such as over-time, child-labor, tip-credit for employers of “tipped employees; nursing mothers, enforcement of federal law, and other information.

For the canneries — the territory’s largest private employer — the minimum was is now $5.96 per hour. The canneries designation includes fishing, canning and processing as well as can manufacturing at the Satala-based can plant.

Regarding government activities, the minimum wage is now $5.61 per hour, although the Lemanu Administration implemented in July a higher wage level at $7.25 per hour.

More information on the local minimum wage as well as to download the new minimum wage poster is online:  [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/american-samoa]

USDOL’s Wage and Hour Division with jurisdiction over American Samoa is the Hawaii office at (808) 541-1361.