27 Mar 2006

Tonga set to cut ministries to 14

1:27 pm on 27 March 2006

The Tonga Privy Council has approved the restructuring of government ministries, with the 16 ministries to be cut to 14 in July.

The Matangi Tonga website reports that under the new structure there are two new ministries.

The Ministries of Civil Aviation and Marine and Ports have merged to form the Ministry of Transport, while a Ministry of Employment, Training, Youth and Sports has been created.

The Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Paula Ma'u says there will be no change to the existing salary scale of 60%, 70% and 80%, but new contracts with new salary packages would be signed with CEOs before July the 1st.

The two-year working contracts with Heads of Departments will expire on June the 30th.

Mr Ma'u says all current public servants would remain in the government payroll despite the ministry reduction.