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Tonga - Compensation & Benefit Legislation

CAPITAL

Nuku'alofa

 

CLIMATE

Tropical climate modified by trade winds. Tonga has a warm season from December to May and a cool season from May to December.

 

LANGUAGES

Tongan, English

 

LEGAL SYSTEM

Tonga’s legal system is based on English law.

 

CURRENCY

Tongan Pa'anga (1 USD = 2.12700 TOP as of June 1, 2002).

 

TONGA - COST-OF-LIVING

ERI's Relocation Assessor is a recommended source for cost-of-living data.

 

TONGA - EMBASSY/CONSULATES

The United States does not have an embassy in Tonga. The ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga.

 

U. S. Embassy at Suva (Fiji)

31 Loftus St.

P.O. Box 218

Suva, Fiji

Telephone: [679] 314-466

Fax: [679] 300-081

http://www.amembassy-fiji.gov

 

 

Royal Kingdom of Tonga (Chancery Office) at New York

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 972-9686

Fax: (212) 490-0534

 

TONGA - HOLIDAYS

 

TONGA - MINIMUM AGE

There is no legislation prohibiting child labor.

 

(Section 6.d. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Tonga – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

TONGA - MINIMUM REMUNERATION

There is no minimum wage law, although there are government guidelines for wage levels.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Tonga – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

TONGA - REMUNERATION

ERI's Geographic and Salary Assessors are recommended sources for international remuneration covering 189 countries.

 

TONGA - REPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES (2001, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE)

Section 6 Worker Rights

 

a. The Right of Association

 

Workers have the right to form unions under the 1963 Trade Union Act; however, regulations establishing the procedures under which unions may be formed never have been promulgated, and there are no unions. The Friendly Islands Teachers Association and the Tonga Nurses Association are incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act. However, they have no formal bargaining rights under that act.

 

The 1963 Act provides workers with the right to strike; however, implementing regulations never have been formulated. There were no strikes during the year.

 

b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively

 

Since no unions have been formed, collective bargaining is not practiced.

 

Labor laws and regulations are enforced in all sectors of the economy, including in the two small export zones.

 

c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor

 

The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor including forced and bonded labor by children, and there were no reports that such practices occurred.

 

d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment

 

Although there is no legislation prohibiting child labor, it does not exist in the wage economy. The Government prohibits forced and bonded labor by children, and such practices are not known to occur (see Section 6.c.).

 

The country is not a member of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and therefore has not ratified ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor.

 

e. Acceptable Conditions of Work

 

There is no minimum wage law, although there are government guidelines for wage levels. Labor laws and regulations, enforced by the Ministry of Labor, Commerce, and Industries, limit the workweek to 40 hours. The Ministry of Labor enforces laws and regulations reasonably well in the wage sector of the economy, particularly on the main island of Tongatapu. Enforcement in the agricultural sector and on the outer islands is limited.

 

Industrial accidents are rare, since few industries exist that would expose workers to significant danger; thus, the Government seldom addresses industrial safety standards, including the right of workers to remove themselves from dangerous work situations.

 

f. Trafficking in Persons

 

The law does not specifically address trafficking in persons; however, there were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within, the country.

 

TONGA - STANDARD WORKWEEK

The standard workweek is 40 hours.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Tonga – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)