American Samoa's governor is again exploring the possibility of seeking financial assistance from the United States to subsidise future minimum wage increases.
Photo: RNZI / Monica Miller
Lolo Matalasi Moliga says the territory's government doesn't have the resources to cover federally-mandated wage hikes.
Lolo raised the idea of a federal subsidy in 2015 ahead of a previous wage hike, but that went nowhere.
He said his administration believes living standards and wages in the territory do need to improve, but the local government does not have the resources to cover an increase.
Lolo said the territory is exploring seeking assistance from the US Departments of Labour and Interior to subsidise increases, otherwise the government may have to reduce its workforce.