The Tonga government has drastically cut back a wage rise for public servants on the advice of the World Bank.
The cabinet has approved a 5 percent cost of living adjustment, or COLA, for civil servants to apply from next month.
Radio Tonga reports the deputy prime minister, Samiu Vaipulu, saying that initially the government was going to give them 20 percent but the World Bank advised against this citing the country's financial difficulties.
A second COLA, of an additional five percent, will be considered in the second half of next year.
