The US President Barack Obama has signed the bill delaying minimum wage increases for American Samoa and the Northern Marianas.
This comes after the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill, deferring the hike in American Samoa for 2010 and 2011, and in the CNMI for 2011.
The House vote followed a Senate approval of the bill earlier in the week.
Under a federal law passed in 2007 minimum wages in American Samoa and the CNMI were to be increased annually until they reach the federal wage of $7.25 an hour.
Another 50 cent increase was to take effect today.
