Tonga's Ministry of Infrastructure has laid off more than 40 contract workers, who are labourers paid on a daily basis.
The ministry has been struggling to pay the workers for the past couple of months.
Radio Tonga reports the Minister of Infrastructure, Etuate Lavulavu, had promised to make payments two weeks ago but they had not been made as of Wednesday.
The minister is reportedly seeking additional funds to cover the outstanding wages for the workers, who are employed as drivers, rubbish collectors and road maintenance workers.
