The American based owners of the Chicken of the Sea Samoa Packing tuna cannery in American Samoa say a report of a close down is just speculation.
The comment follows reports in the territory that the company is planning to lay off 200 workers when the next 50 US cent minimum wage hike becomes effective next month.
A company official says the company has worked diligently to ensure it remains viable and competitive while trying to offset rapidly escalating costs.
Meanwhile the other cannery in Pago Pago, StarKist Samoa, has offered no comment after a local politician said the company was preparing to lay off 250 employees.
A StarKist spokesperson says the company is not announcing staff changes.
