Updated at 10:45 a.m., Friday, June 15, 2007
Interior secretary signs Samoan work force study grant
Advertiser Staff
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today signed a grant for more than $188,000 to fund a work force study designed to help the territory attract private-sector investment.On the final stop on his visit to U.S.-affiliated Pacific island communities, Kempthorne met with Gov. Togiola Tulafono and other political and traditional leaders to address concerns about the long-term viability of tuna canneries that employ about one-third of American Samoa's workforce.
Local leaders, including Togiola, Lt. Gov. Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, Senate President Lolo Moliga, and House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, expressed to Kempthorne their concern that recently passed federal minimum wage legislation would force the canneries to relocate to countries that pay their workers a fraction of what workers earn in American Samoa.
The study will help American Samoa and private investors determine whether there is a sufficient number of qualified employees on the island to support a call center industry or other industries, according to a news release issued today.
In addition, the study will identify the potential availability of workers from the independent nation of Samoa and other areas if necessary.
As secretary of the Interior, Kempthorne is responsible for generally administering the federal government's relationship with the U.S. territories (other than Puerto Rico) and administering the financial assistance provided to the freely associated states under the Compacts of Free Association.
