Pago Pago, AMARICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has lifted the freeze on paying annual increments to government employees, a policy that was implemented when the Lolo Administration took the helm of government five-years go.

And the Department of Human Resources is now moving forward with the processing of increment requests for ASG employees with their anniversary date of Oct. 1, 2018 and onwards.

In an Oct. 15 memorandum to his cabinet members, the governor points out that at the onset of the current Administration on Jan. 3, 2013, cost-containment measures were put in place “demonstrating our commitment to fiscal prudence and maximum financial accountability.”

“Our collective success, aided by support of the Legislature, facilitated the significant and methodical advancement of our fiscal vision inherent in our above stated fiscal mantra,” wrote Lolo in the memo, with the subject, “Lifting of Annual Increments Suspension Policy”.

With the decision to lift the suspension of annual increments, the governor stressed to his cabinet directors that “it does not relax our continued vigilance in the prudent management of activities consuming locally generated funds.”

Accordingly, he notes that cost-containment measures in place since Jan. 4, 2013 “will remain in effect.”

“However, agency needs that necessitate utilization of local funds will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis dependent on whether additional revenues will be generated or the quality of service provided is appreciably improved,” he reminded his cabinet.

Lolo then directed the Office of Program Planning and Budget and the Department of Human Resources to commence adjustment of individual salaries of all employees entitled and eligible for annual increments. The effective date of processing increments is Oct. 1, 2018, which is also the start of the current fiscal year 2019.

The governor acknowledged with “appreciation the sacrifices” made by employees over the years when the annual increments were suspended “due to our fragile and uncertain condition of our finances.”

“We are very sensitive as well to the steady rise in the cost of living, but it was deemed necessary that we made sure that no employee was laid off as we struggled to improve the financial status of our government,” the governor concluded.

With the governor’s directive, DHR director Eseneiaso J. Liu issued an Oct. 18 letter to all agency directors saying that increment requests for ASG employees with “an Anniversary Date of Oct. 1st and onwards will be processed.”

“In some cases where there is a promotion or salary adjustment involved, the promotion or salary adjustment date may be used in lieu of the Anniversary Date, which had to have occurred on Oct. 1st and onwards,” she explained.

She said the same process that was in place prior to the suspension of increments will be adhered to.

“As such, increments are allotted based on the employee’s performance and submission of the necessary paperwork and documents,” she said and outlined documents needed to “re-initiate the processing of increments.”

Among the documents, is the employee’s approved and signed ASG Form 303 and an “Employee Performance Evaluation Report that is satisfactory or better.”

As previously reported by Samoa News, increments are included in not only the approved FY 2019 budget but also previous fiscal year budgets during the Lolo Administration. And lawmakers have continually requested ASG officials — during budget hearings — to pay the increments, which provides additional money for employees and their families.