Certain wages remain unsettled after private complaint (7)
I believe the answer is:
stipend
'private complaint' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'certain wages remain unsettled after' is the wordplay.
'certain wages' becomes 'sti' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'remain unsettled' becomes 'pend' (I've seen this in another clue).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'sti'+'pend'='STIPEND'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stipend that I've seen before include "Money paid periodically" , "Periodical allowance" , "Payment for cleric" , "Soldier's pay" , "Church pay" .)