Pay rises 'will hit services' in Tonga

Tongans from the island of'Eua march in support of strikers in Nuku'alofa. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Tongans have been warned that a six-week strike by civil servants that achieved huge pay increases will harm already patchy public services.

Pesi Fonua, the editor of online news-site Matangi Tonga, said in an editorial that the decision by the Government to give in to the strikers' demands last month was a huge undertaking given its limited sources of revenue other than taxes, foreign aid and remittances.

Mr Fonua said everyone on the state payroll, except heads of departments and Members of Parliament, was promised 60, 70, or 80 per cent pay rises.

The total cost of the increases, which are back-dated to last July, was about $35 million, he said.

Sixty per cent of that amount would be paid this year, and the balance next year.

"So how is Tonga going to raise $21 million to pay for this year's salary rise?"

Mr Fonua quoted Acting Finance Minister'Aisake Eke as saying the strikers' memorandum of understanding restrained the Government from lifting taxes, and it would not raise a loan to pay for salaries.

"Therefore, to pay for the salary rise, each ministry would have to cut down on services expenditure and reallocate their vote for the payment of salaries."

Mr Fonua warned that such spending cuts would further lower the standard of a public service that was already in decline.

"You only have to visit the facilities at the hospital and at the airport to see for yourself the shocking state of the maintenance and the shortage of supplies.

"The deteriorating roads, road signs, and sand-bagged roundabouts are obvious signs of a poor public service."

Mr Fonua said the cash-strapped Post Office was selling official stamps for ordinary mail and a new state high school remained closed because there was no furniture.

"And now ministries have less than before to offer the public."

Tonga's Prime Minister, Prince'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, told Parliament this month that the country "would find out" it could not afford to pay the increases won by the civil servants.