The Tonga Public Service Association wants the Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, to re-consider a planned ten-percent pay rise for public servants if that money is to come from ministerial budgets.
Mele Amanaki of the PSA says the Prime Minister has indicated the money will be provided by a loan from the Asian Development Bank but she says according to the Minister of Finance, the wage rises will come from the budget of each ministry.
She says ministries have been told to cut their budgets for the next financial year and some, such as education, are already struggling to provide services.
Ms Amanaki also says the government needs to consider how to ensure all workers and taxpayers can benefit, rather than just raising the wages of public servants.
She says the government cannot forget about the 94 percent of the working population who are outside of the public service.
She says a 100 percent wage claim by the PSA remains on hold until the economic crisis is over.
