Tonga's public servants are appealing to government to halt this week's salary rise, in a bid to win more money in the face of a widening gap between their salary increases and those of the top government officials.

A meeting of over 1000 public servants on July 13 appealed to government to halt the public servants salary rise that was scheduled to start this week.

Instead, the meeting requested government to continue to pay their salaries at the old rate, giving them time to negotiate for a more comprehensive salary rise.

The meeting was called by a newly established Public Servants Association to enable public servants to air their views on the salary rise that came into effect on July 1.

The public servants grievances ranged from claims that there was no consistent formula for setting the rise and it was therefore unfair, and pointed to the to widening the gap between the rich and the poor because of a bigger increase to the salaries of the upper echelon of the public service, but as low as 1 per cent rise to lower wage earners.

A number of approaches were suggested by speakers at the meeting, including a call for a protest march, and for a national strike, but in the end the meeting agreed to take a softer approach. The PSA was to write to the Public Service Commission and request for salaries to be paid at the older rate, while allowing the PSA to negotiate for a comprehensive and an acceptable rate of increase.

The executive of the PSA are president, Finau Tutone, vice president, Maliu Takai; secretary, Vuna Fa'otusia; and assisted by Mele 'Amanaki.