Apia, SAMOA — The Government has been urged to raise the minimum wage to $5 tala.

The call comes from the Samoa First Union, which initially started the campaign several years ago calling for an increase from $2.30 to $3 tala.

But Senior Organizer for Samoa First Union, Saina Tomi Fetalaia, said the minimum wage as it stands today does not cater for the needs of people who are increasingly struggling with the cost of living.

“The time has passed for $3 tala, we must pursue to have our minimum wage increased to $5tala,” said Saina.

“The last minimum wage increase was in 2012, that was seven years ago. And in any country in the world the minimum wage does not stay the same, it increases on an annual basis.”

Saina pointed to New Zealand and Australia for instance.

“In New Zealand and Australia, every year there is a raise in the minimum wage,” she said.

“When Samoan First Union launched its campaign to increase the minimum wage in 2015, we asked for $3 tala; however that was three years ago and the longer the minimum wage sits there without an increase, should call for much bigger increase such as $5 tala.”

It was not possible to get a comment from the Government yesterday.

But during a recent interview, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said an increased is totally dependent on whether the private sector can afford it.

“We all want to raise minimum wage but it has to be a measured increase and at a level the private sector can absorb,” the Prime Minister said.

Read more at Samoa Observer