Unsurprisingly, wage restraint forms part of the three key macroeconomic objectives agreed by Comoros and the IMF to sustain economic growth above 4% annually over the medium term. The three objectives are as follows.

• Reforms to widen the fiscal space for higher pro-growth and pro-poor spending will be introduced. This will contain the public-sector wage bill and be achieved through "scaled-up aid and debt relief". Indeed, Comoros is on track to receive debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. However, the country's donors are likely to want to see an established track record of reform before committing substantial new funds.
• Structural reforms to improve productivity and competitiveness will be stepped up. This will involve measures to reform public utilities, improve the business and investment climate, and advance financial intermediation. However, these are ambitious reforms, and local politicians have not taken a proactive stance thus far.
• Incentives to encourage remittances to be channelled into productive investment will be introduced.