Hazard pay extended for ASG essential workers during community spread
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As the surge of the community spread of the COVID-19 continues, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, has extended the hazardous duty pay for certain government workers until June this year — and this date may be extended or modified.
The hazardous duty pay policy for workers involved in the COVID-19 pandemic work was first implemented by the governor under an Apr. 5, 2021 directive and remained valid through the end of last year.
ASG employees who work in hazardous conditions relating to the local response to COVID-19 are paid a hazardous duty pay of $1 an hour for every hour, plus their regular rate. The governor outlined workers who fall under the hazardous pay policy.
In a new memorandum, dated Mar. 31 this year, the governor noted that hazardous duty pay had been extended from Dec. 31, 2021 until Feb. 21, 2022. “Employees who have not received hazardous duty pay shall be paid retroactively,” he explained.
According to the governor, the community spread of COVID-19 was confirmed in the territory on Feb. 22 and government operations were then modified to minimize the spread of the coronavirus while maintaining essential services to the public.
“Directors are expected to take precautions to protect the health of employees and the general public. That includes using remote work to the maximum extent possible,” Lemanu pointed out.
Effective Feb. 22, he said, hazardous duty pay is authorized for those employees who are still required to come to work in person by direction of their supervisor or due to the nature of their work pursuant to local regulation A.S.A.C. 4.0411 (a).
“This applies to all employees of the American Samoa Government including, but not limited to, temporary employees, probationary employees, career service employees and contract specialist whether the employee is paid hourly or on salary,” the governor told cabinet members.
Furthermore, hazardous duty compensation for essential employees who have to report to their normal work site is set at $1 for each hour they work on-site, in addition to their usual hourly rate or salary.
Lemanu also said that directors should establish policy as to when an employee is required to work in person and procedures for reporting and approving hazardous duty hours.
“This does not apply to employees who work remotely or who work outside of American Samoa,” he said and noted that this policy will be in effect until June 1 of this year, or as extended, modified or terminated.
Samoa News notes that the ASG regulation, Hazardous Pay — A.S.A.C 4.0411 (a), states in part that, “It is recognized that some positions at times involved intrinsically hazardous working conditions, justifying “hazard pay” — which is pay additional to the normal hourly pay for the position, payable to employees while actually engaged in the hazardous activities.