Ads by Google Ads by Google

How much will American Samoa’s federal minimum wage go up on Sept. 30?

Minimum Wage logo
Editor-in-Chief

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa News was asked what the raise in the federal minimum wage for American Samoa is on Sept. 30th (this month) — 40¢ or 50¢?

It’s 40¢ across the board for all industries.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-28), as amended, applies to the minimum wage rates to industries in American Samoa. This law also provides for additional increases in the minimum wage of $0.40 per hour to occur every three (3) years (e.g. 2018, 2021, 2024, etc.) on September 30, until reaching the minimum wage generally applicable in the U.S. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour.

The first raise for local industries was on May 25, 2009; and, the second began Sept. 30, 2015. Three years later, Sept. 30, 2018 — another $0.40 per hour is set to occur.

(Printing seems to be the exception, with the US Department of Labor- Wage and Hour Division listing this industry as beginning their raise in minimum wages on July 24, 2007, with the next one on Sept. 30, 2015, and so on.)

And in case you forget.

The following is a breakdown by industry of the federal minimum wage as it currently stands (2015) and the increase that is to happen on Sept. 30, 2018:

FISH CANNING AND PROCESSING AND CAN MANUFACTURING — $5.16 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.56 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

SHIPPING AND TRANSPORTATION

CLASSIFICATION A:

STEVEDORING, LIGHTERAGE, AND MARITIME SHIPPING AGENCY ACTIVITIES — $5.99 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $6.39 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

 CLASSIFICATION B:

UNLOADING OF FISH — $5.82 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $6.22 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

CLASSIFICATION C:  ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES — $5.78 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $6.18 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

TOUR AND TRAVEL SERVICES — $5.38 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.78 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

PETROLEUM MARKETING — $5.75 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $6.15 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

CONSTRUCTION — $5.50 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.90 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

HOTEL — $4.90 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.30 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

RETAILING, WHOLESALING, AND WAREHOUSING — $5.00 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.40 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

SHIP MAINTENANCE — $5.41 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.81 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

BOTTLING, BREWING, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS — $5.09 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.49 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

PRINTING — $5.00 beginning July 24, 2007/ $5.40 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.80 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

FINANCE AND INSURANCE  — $5.89 beginning Sept. 30, 2015 / $6.29 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS — $5.23 beginning Sept. 30, 2015/ $5.63 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

GOVERNMENT — EMPLOYEES INDUSTRY — $4.81 beginning September 30, 2015/ $5.21 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES (INCLUDES DOMESTIC WORK) — $4.60 beginning September 30, 2015/ $5.00 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

GARMENT MANUFACTURING  — $4.58 beginning September 30, 2015/ $4.98 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

PUBLISHING — $5.53 beginning September 30, 2015/ $5.93 beginning Sept. 30, 2018

OVERTIME PAY is by federal law at least 1-1⁄2 times the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

(Source: The American Samoa minimum wage poster — “Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act”)