Tongan public servants including casual employees in January 2014 will receive a 5% cost of living adjustment government said this week.
Ministry of Finance CEO Tatafu Moeaki said, it is the responsibility of government “to periodically adjust service staff salaries to the cost of living increases.
“In this regard, the Ministry’s duly responsibility and contribution to the appropriate COLA is to provide sound and timely advise based on thorough analysis of options to manage Government's affordability of COLA, cost control options of tax payers (public) money i.e. within budget and not undermining other Government priorities, its predictability (fiscal implication) and sustainability of these costs,” he said.
The 5% COLA was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu after the cabinet previously approved a 20% adjustment increase for its employees.
The Finance Minister Hon Lisiate Akolo said government has no money to fund the pay rise.
Cabinet however finally agree for the 5% to start with and said that would be reviewed later next year.
