Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The administration is making it a priority to ensure the proper certification of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) personnel. This comes after ASG has operated for some years without certified Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officers to provide critical training and address grievance cases within its workforce.

Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and Lt. Governor Pulu Ae Ae Jr., are taking steps to enhance workforce development within ASG, as part of their “commitment to fostering a well-trained and equitable public service environment,” a release to media yesterday explained.

On April 24th, 2025, Ms. Fa'atigafua Fuatagavi, EEO Manager, and Mr. Levi Maugalei will travel to Washington, D.C., to complete their EEO certification training. Training will be conducted by the EEOC Training Institute from April 28th to May 2nd. Participants will be taught the basics of EEO law and theories of discrimination, including the integration of the 1614 regulations and the federal sector EEO process. They will learn to apply models of proof in employment discrimination cases and identify the critical elements of a disability discrimination case. The training will also include planning for interviews using supplied tools and techniques, conducting effective interviews, drafting the Investigative Report, and writing the Investigative Summary. These comprehensive topics will equip participants with the skills necessary to handle sensitive EEO cases effectively.

Under the current FY25 budget, the EEO Office is authorized to staff a Manager, a Senior Administrative Assistant, and an Administrative Assistant II, all serving under contract positions. In the proposed FY26 budget, the office structure is set to be redefined: the Manager position will be retitled as EEO Program Manager, while the Senior Administrative Assistant and Administrative Assistant II roles will be reclassified into two Caseworker positions and one Administrative Assistant role, respectively. Salaries allocated under the approved FY25 budget will remain unchanged.

The EEO Office was initially aligned under the Department of Human Resources but was later realigned under the Governor’s Office. The current administration has continued to operate under this model “to alleviate potential conflicts of interest.”

The EEO is currently located on the second floor of the Lumana'i Building but is scheduled to relocate to the Haleck’s Building in Pavaia’i by June 2025.

The media release stated that “the goal of this administration to ensure that all ASG employees fully understand their rights, fostering a workplace environment built on fairness and equity. Furthermore, it is the goal of this administration that the EEO Training becomes a mandatory annual training for the entire ASG workforce.”

"Investing in the certification and training of EEO Officers is a crucial step in ensuring fairness, equity, and professionalism across all levels of government. We are dedicated to providing our workforce with the support it deserves," Governor Pula emphasized in the media release.