American Samoa's Governor has established a new compensation policy for graduates entering the workforce.
Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga Photo: RNZI / Monica Miller
Lolo Matalasi Moliga said $US16,000 is the minimum wage for Associate Degree holders and $US12,000 for those with high school diplomas.
He said the thresholds reflected workplace demands for educated workers with the capacity to assimilate new technological requirements in professional fields.
Those already in the workforce holding such qualifications would have their salaries adjusted if need be with longetivity of service also taken into account.
The governor said the changes sent a clear message to the young people of American Samoa that education was the keystone to employment recruitment.
More six years ago, the governor established salary thresholds for bachelors and masters' degree holders.
Those minimums are $23,000 and $27,000 respectively.
