Consultations Start to Consider Minimum Wage and Equitable Public Sector Pay Increase

2026-02-12 - 09:09

By: Leota Marc Membrere, Press Secretariat. Cabinet has directed the Government Remuneration Tribunal to begin discussions and prepare a proposal for an equitable pay increase for government employees. The Remuneration Tribunal (RT) are responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to Cabinet on the salaries, allowances, and other benefits of the public service. Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao Fosi Schmidt announced at his weekly press conference that the task given to the RT is expected to take five to six months to complete. “The main objective is to ensure that public service salaries are sustainable, equitable and aligned to current rates of inflation and cost of living,” said the Prime Minister. Laaulialemalietoa highlighted that this was one of Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi’s key commitments ahead of the General Election in August 2025. The FAST manifesto had stated the party’s intentions to raise the national minimum wage to $6 tala per hour. Samoa’s minimum wage is currently at $4.84 per hour, following an increase on 01 July 2025. The Prime Minister acknowledged the need to consider the impacts of minimum wage on the Private Sector and local business. “The Tribunal have been tasked to hold consultations, discuss with the private sector and carefully consider those sectors of business that would be impacted,” said the Prime Minister. “The cost to businesses is a key reason why increases to the national minimum wage are often put on hold..” Samoa’s leading provider of ICT Solutions. The minimum wage is typically monitored by Samoa’s Tripartite Forum. Coordinated by the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour, the Tripartite comprises of representatives from Workers Unions, Employers and Government. Cabinet will make the final decision once a report and recommendations are received from the Remuneration Tribunal.