The United States House of Representatives has voted to delay until 2017 a 50 cent increase in the American Samoa minimum wage due to come into effect at the end of this month.
The bill sponsored by American Samoa's congresswoman Aumua Amata now goes to the US Senate for consideration.
If passed by the full Congress, the measure would still need to get to President Obama for approval.
The Washington Examiner newspaper reports US congressman Mike Bishop as saying the bill would delay the minimum wage increase for 15 months.
Business interests and the government in American Samoa have been very concerned at the impact the rise would have on the viability of businesses, especially in its key tuna cannery sector.