Tonga, formally known as the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan: Puleanga Fakatui o Tonga), is a Polynesian kingdom with 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. The archipelago's total surface size is about 750 km2 (290 sq mi), spread over 700,000 km2 (270,000 sq mi) of the southern Pacific Ocean. According to Johnson's Tribune, Tonga has a population of 104,494, with 70 percent of the people residing on the main island, Tongatapu. The nation is around 800 kilometers (500 miles) long from north to south. It is bounded to the northwest by Fiji and Wallis and Futuna (France), to the northeast by Samoa, to the west by New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu, to the east by Niue (the closest foreign territory), and to the southwest by Kermadec (New Zealand). Tonga is about 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) from New Zealand's North Island.
Tonga's Polynesian immigrants progressively formed a unique and strong ethnic identity, language, and culture as the Tongan people after being first occupied some 2,500 years ago by the Lapita civilisation. They were fast to establish a strong foothold in the South Pacific, and this era of Tongan expansionism and colonialism is known as the Tui Tonga Empire. Tonga emerged into a regional powerhouse during the leadership of the first Tongan monarch, Ahoeitu. It was a thalassocracy that invaded and dominated vast swaths of the Pacific, from the Solomon Islands and all of New Caledonia and Fiji in the west to Samoa and Niue in the east, and even sections of modern-day French Polynesia. Tui Tonga rose to prominence in the Pacific for its economic, ethnic, and cultural clout, which persisted even after the Samoan revolution of the 13th century and European discovery of the islands in 1616.
Tonga was a British protected state from 1900 until 1970. Under a Treaty of Friendship, the United Kingdom was responsible for Tonga's international affairs, although Tonga never ceded sovereignty to any foreign country. After legislative amendments prepared the way for its first partly representative elections, Tonga made a crucial step away from its previous absolute monarchy and became a fully functional constitutional monarchy in 2010.
The Ombudsman may fire an employee at any time during the probationary period for violating any applicable law, rule, instruction, process, or authorized directive. If an employee's role becomes surplus to the Office's requirements, their employment may be terminated due to redundancy. The employee of the Office may be discharged for major offenses and serious violations of discipline, such as poor performance, undesirable behavior, or illness and incapacity.
The employment contract specifies the notice period.
All new employees shall serve a six-month probationary period.
The Ombudsman's Office is responsible for determining the amount of severance pay that terminated employees are entitled to.
Tonga's 2020 Employment Relations Bill establishes a daily work limit of eight hours and a weekly work limit of forty hours. Each week, workers are entitled to at least one full day of rest.
After one year of employment, employees are entitled to 12 days of paid annual leave in addition to their regular working hours. Employers must allow employees to take all of their annual leave in a single period, or in two or more periods, with at least one period lasting at least one week.
Overtime is permitted and compensated at a rate of 125 percent of the regular wage of the employee. Except in exceptional circumstances, the total time worked in any given week cannot exceed 48 hours, including regular and overtime hours.
Salaries in Tonga range from 460 TOP per month to 8,130 TOP per month.
The government, together with donor funding, finances the bulk of the country's health-care system, enabling people to pay little or nothing for treatment. Because of its significant health-care funding, the country has one of the highest levels of health in the Pacific.
There are no rules governing employers' supply of private health insurance. Private insurance is not popular since most health-care services are funded by the government, but you may opt to provide it via your business.
The country's labor regulations do not include any incentives or extra perks. You have the option of providing additional benefits to your workers via employment contracts and collective bargaining.
There is currently no information on taxation in Tonga
There is currently no information on taxation in Tonga
There is currently no information on taxation in Tonga
The Tonga visa policy is intended to outline the many requirements that a foreigner must follow in order to visit the Kingdom, as well as the necessary travel papers. These procedures and documents differ depending on nationality, as do other considerations such as the desired start and finish dates of the voyage, as well as the admittance allowance (single, double, or multiple-entry).
In general, the Tonga visa policy is straightforward: foreign people from over 70 countries may enter Tonga and get a visiting visa upon arrival at the entry port. The foreigner will be able to remain for up to one month under the terms of the visa.
Nationals of non-listed countries (the more than 70 nations that do not need a visa before travel) must get a letter of authorisation or an entrance permit from the government. The document will allow you to go to Tonga.
Foreigners who want to start a new firm or create a subsidiary in any nation must apply for a business license. Non-Tongan nationals who have been offered a job or desire to work in the Kingdom of Tonga must get an employment visa.
Tonga's tourism visa policy is known for being welcoming, since individuals from more than 70 countries are free from requiring a tourist visa to visit the country. Upon arrival, these persons will be issued a guest visa.
Nationals from countries not on the list must apply for an admission permit or a letter of authorisation from the government. There are two ways to get this necessary passport for enjoying the Tongan scenery.
To travel to Tonga, everyone must have a passport that is valid for at least six months following the departure date on their Passenger Arrival Card.
Tonga's employment compliance rules demand that contracts for work lasting two months or more be in writing. Employment contracts should incorporate any position-specific rules, such as:
Salary or hourly pay
If relevant, a start and finish date.
Annual and sick leave are available.
The policy on termination and the necessary notice.
Since joining the ILO, the nation has recognized the ILO's pillars of employment rights, including collective bargaining. When you recruit Tongan workers, you may negotiate employment conditions depending on their requirements.
There is no set length for assignments. This is usually indicated in the employment contract for fixed-term employments.
Tongan Pa'anga
The first step in establishing a subsidiary is to reserve your business name with the Business Registries Office. Your name must be distinct, and your reservation will be valid for 20 days. If you do not complete your incorporation within those 20 days, you must re-reserve your name.
Then, in order to acquire your certificate, you must file for incorporation with the Business Registries Office. You must name your directors, shareholders, and secretaries for this application, as well as provide a physical address for doing business.
You may apply for a business license at the Ministry of Labor, Commerce, and Industries after your incorporation is complete. While you will not be required to renew this license on an annual basis, you will be required to submit a notice for ongoing operation every year you operate.
If you are not a subject in Tonga and possess more than 25% of the entity's voting shares, you must additionally apply for a foreign investor license. This license must be obtained from the Ministry of Labor, Commerce, and Industries.
You may register for consumption and income tax when you've filed for incorporation and the necessary permits. Registration for consumption tax is only required if your yearly revenue exceeds 100,000 Tongan paanga (). You may manage these registration requirements by contacting the Ministry of Revenue and Customs.
The needed business constitution is one of the country's major subsidiary laws. This formal document, which defines your entity's rules and operational procedures, must be submitted with your application for incorporation. The Companies Act of 1995 specifies the issues you must include in your constitution, such as the powers of your directors and shareholders.
At least one director, shareholder, and secretary must be appointed to your subsidiary. There are no laws governing these posts' nationality or legal citizenship.
