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Governor approves work permits for cannery workers from Samoa
Governor Togiola Tulafono has informed Fono leaders of his approval of 116 work permits for workers from Samoa to work at the two canneries. Of that number, 60 applications were for guest worker permits for Chicken of the Sea (COS) and the other 56 were for Star Kist Samoa.
Togiola made the announcement to the Fono on May 23, just two days before the second 50-cent minimum wage hike went into effect in the territory.
The Governor explained that the permits were approved because the sponsors (canneries) have been unable to meet employment needs with individuals currently residing in American Samoa.
The Governor’s approval is in accordance with the guest worker permit program law which went into effect last year, aimed at addressing the shortage of cannery workers. Under the same law, the proposed call centers are permitted to recruit workers from Samoa if there is not enough of a workforce that can be hired locally.
It also requires the Attorney General’s Office to provide a list of foreign nationals and their local hosts to the Governor, who approves the permits before the list is forwarded to the local Legislature.
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