The team will study the effects of past and future minimum wage increases on employment and on living standards, as mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
GAO encourages community members interested in sharing their views with the team to attend an open public meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24 at the multi-purpose center in susupe, or by sending an e-mail message to [email protected].
In addition, the team will administer a detailed questionnaire of large employers in the CNMI.
GAO will invite groups of workers from different industries, recipients of public assistance programs, small employers, and other community members to share their perspectives on the minimum wage increases.
The team will meet with government officials and representatives of the private sector, among others.
In August, members of the team traveled to American Samoa and collected similar types of information.
GAO will issue a report between March 15 and April 15, 2010, with additional reports due each year thereafter until the minimum wage here converges with the federal minimum wage.
Members of the public can view or download a copy of the report at http://www.gao.gov.
