Underpaid Men In Islands
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
Jobs
From Our Own Correspondent
Nukualofa, Dec. 18.
YOUR September article urging more consideration for men in responsible positions, on fixed incomes, was timely. The same stinginess in relation to salaries and wages is observed here in Tonga. It is no wonder people steal and embezzle—their meagre salaries are now inadequate to meet present-day sky high prices—most of them are still paid pre-war salaries.
The big firms should do better, and give a lead, for they are coining money these days. When it comes to paying their employees on a scale in line with present-day big business, they are not very interested. But they make a dread ful fuss when their employees rob them.
The Government circulates a schedule for daily labour wages from 7/6d. to 10/6d. per day; overtime from l/3d. to 2/4d. per hour. Compared with wages paid to their own civil service, to men with much more responsible jobs, the daily, labourer is better off. Among the poorly paid are school teachers, police, post office and copra board office em ployees, and responsible native staff.