The American Samoa Power Authority is putting a freeze on all hiring for the rest of the year.
The Authority says the move is in response to governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga's call on the board to decrease personnel costs and reduce the cost of electricity by five percent by the end of the year.
Samoa News reports the Power Authority's executive director, Utu Abe Malae, as saying the board has taken up the governor's challenge.
He says except for hard to fill positions such as engineers and technicians, no staff will be hired for the rest of the year, and incentives will be offered for early retirement of eligible employees.
The company has also tightened disciplinary actions to include dismissal for employees who are guilty of stealing water or power from the government, or testing positive for illicit drugs.
