Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says a decision by Ministry of Foreign Affairs chief executive John Allen to accept a big pay rise is a matter for his conscience.
The Labour Party has criticised Mr Allen for accepting a pay increase of $40,000, following a restructuring in which 79 people lost their jobs.
Mr McCully said he first heard about the pay increase in the media.
He told Morning Report that chief executive's salaries are a decision for the State Services Commission, but it was for Mr Allen to decide whether to accept the increase.
