The new 40 cents per hour federally mandated minimum wage increase has come into force in American Samoa this week.
The US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division released over the weekend the updated minimum wage, taking effect 30 September.
Under the new minimum wage, the canneries - the largest private employers in American Samoa will now pay workers at least $US5.56 per hour.
For the American Samoa Government, the largest employer in the territory, the new minimum wage is $US5.21 per hour.