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The
federal minimum wage will increase for employees in American Samoa and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), effective May
25 and May 26 respectively. With the increase, the new minimum wage
rates in American Samoa, which vary by industry, will range from $4.18
for garment manufacturing to $5.59 for certain types of shipping and
transportation. Employees who work in the CNMI can expect to receive
$4.55 per hour.
"With this next phased increase, workers in
American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are
on their way to receiving the same minimum wage as mainland workers,"
said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The Department of Labor is
committed to ensuring vulnerable minimum wage workers receive the full
protection of the law."
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007
amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), increasing the general
federal minimum wage in three steps: from $5.85 per hour effective July
24, 2007; to $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008; and to $7.25 per
hour effective July 24, 2009. A separate provision of the amendments
brought about phased increases to the minimum wages in American Samoa
and the CNMI. Under this provision, the minimum rates in these
territories increase 50 cents an hour each May until they have reached
the minimum wage generally applicable in the U.S. Increases occur each
year in American Samoa on May 25 and in the CNMI, which is across the
international dateline, on May 26.
Prior to the FLSA amendment, special industry committees that met biennially set the minimum wage rates in American Samoa.
In
addition, before enactment of the FLSA amendment, the CNMI government,
under the authority of a covenant between the people of the Northern
Marianas and the U.S. Congress, set the CNMI minimum wage. The
overtime, youth employment and recordkeeping provisions of the FLSA
were already applicable to CNMI before the change, and they have
continued to apply as before.
The Department of Labor's Wage and
Hour Division, which enforces the FLSA, has updated compliance
assistance information on its Web site at www.wagehour.dol.gov. Every
employer subject to the FLSA minimum wage provisions must post, and
keep posted, a notice explaining the FLSA's provisions in all of its
establishments so that employees are readily able to read it.
Employers
and employees seeking more compliance information on the new minimum
wage rates in American Samoa and the CNMI may call the Wage and Hour
Division's Honolulu District Office at 808-541-1361. Fact sheets and
further guidance are available on the division's Web site.
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