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Civil servants take a pay cut? At the end of the salary survey, the labor union advocates freezing wages: poor data, worrying about wage cuts for migrant workers

2022-03-31T11:54:01.140Z


The annual salary adjustment range for civil servants is usually announced in May, and the salary trend in the private market is one of the indicators. The government is collecting relevant data. Liang Choting, director-general of the Federation of Civil Servants’ Unions, said that the labor force in this area is


The annual salary adjustment range for civil servants is usually announced in May. The salary trend in the private market is one of the indicators. The government is collecting relevant data. Liang Choting, director-general of the Federation of Civil Servants’ Unions, said the work in this area will be completed in the next one or two days. , the government will then analyze the data and consult the staff side in April, so any rumors of "salary cuts" for civil servants at this stage are false.


Leung Chiu-ting pointed out that the salary trend in the private market under the epidemic "don't wash the figures, we all know that it must be unsatisfactory", so last year he asked to suspend the investigation this year: "If the result is negative at that time, even if the civil servants are not reduced, it will affect the private market. There is a domino effect, and you can’t control the employer who comes forward.” He said that the best course of action is to stop the investigation and freeze wages.

Li Kuiyan, president of the Chinese Association, also said that he had not heard any rumors of a pay cut. He pointed out that the Chinese Association had suggested to the government to freeze wages this year and stop the survey on salary trends.


In response to the enquiry of "Hong Kong 01", the Civil Service Bureau stated that the Pay Trend Survey Committee had commissioned the 2022 Pay Trend Survey in early February, and reiterated that it would consider a number of factors before making a decision.


The Civil Service Pay Trend Survey will set pay adjustment indicators.

(file picture)

Compensation data not collected

Hong Kong has been affected by the epidemic in the past two years, and many industries have been greatly affected. The society is concerned about the government's salary trend survey, because the results will not only affect the salary adjustment of 180,000 civil servants, but also the private sector will also refer to it.

It has been circulated on the Internet that civil servants are discussing the news of the entire salary cut this year. If true, it will be the first salary cut since 2009.

Li Kuiyan pointed out when receiving an inquiry from "Hong Kong 01" that there are often different news circulating on the Internet, but she has not received relevant news, and the government has not started discussing salary adjustments with staff organizations.

She hopes that the government will clarify the news and avoid unrest in the hearts of the people. "If you don't speak out, it doesn't mean the issue will disappear." It is not appropriate to ignore the rumors.

Leung Chiu-ting explained that the government will first complete the collection of private market data and then meet with civil servants organizations, so it is impossible to make a decision on salary reduction at this moment.

In addition to the net salary trend indicators, the mechanism will also take into account economic conditions, changes in living costs, government finances, staff requirements and civil servant morale, and finally decide on the annual salary adjustment range, so it is too early to say.

Leung Chau-ting, MP advocates a salary increase: push us to death

The economic situation has been seriously distorted under the epidemic. Leung Chiu-ting pointed out that the unsatisfactory salary trend in the private market is completely predictable. Under such circumstances, the suspension of salary trend surveys was preceded by SARS in 2003. Pretty much."

The Chinese Association also wrote to the Civil Service Bureau earlier, proposing to suspend the investigation this year and continue to freeze the salaries of civil servants.

Li Kuiyan said that the private market has been severely distorted by the epidemic, and the increase in business in the laboratory and other industries has increased wages, but some industries have also experienced business closures, layoffs, and wage reductions. The proportion of different industries in the salary trend survey will cause great differences in the results. .

The government is now mobilizing all civil servants to fight the epidemic. Lee Kui-yin pointed out that the workload of civil servants has increased, and many colleagues are involved in work that poses a risk of infection. For example, some staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have to be transferred to dispose of dead bodies.

Moreover, the entire salary reduction will also affect the anti-epidemic professional teams such as medical nurses and chemists who have been working overtime. It is believed that the salary reduction in this case is not fair.

As for a Legislative Council member's suggestion that a "salary increase" boosts morale under the epidemic, Leung Chiu-ting disagrees, "And the market conditions have led to a salary increase, Mi is pushing us to death, it is better to freeze the salary!"

▼Civil servants have participated in the fight against the epidemic in recent months, including the siege campaign▼


+5

Private market follows wage cuts, headwinds economic recovery

The Chinese Association proposed as early as 2020 that civil servants would freeze their salaries for three years.

Li Kuiyan pointed out that the salary trend survey at that time was positive, and the salary should be raised according to the mechanism. However, in 2020, Hong Kong is affected by the epidemic. If the civil servants' salary increase will cause a rebound in the society, considering the epidemic situation and social situation, a proposal to freeze salary is proposed.

Li Kuiyan pointed out that the fifth wave of the epidemic will have a great impact on society, and many companies in the private market will also refer to the civil servant salary survey, worrying that if civil servants reduce their salaries, the private sector will follow suit, which will dampen consumer confidence and help the economy. recovery.

Li Kuiyan pointed out that SARS discussed the salary arrangement with the government, and hoped that this time the government can also discuss with civil servant organizations as soon as possible, and work out a plan together to calm social unrest and focus on the response to the epidemic.

Civil Service Bureau: The investigation profession objectively considers a number of factors

In response to the enquiry, the Civil Service Bureau stated that the annual civil service pay adjustment will take into account a number of factors, including pay trend indicators derived from the annual pay trend survey, Hong Kong's economic situation, changes in the cost of living, the government's financial position, and staff-side adjustments to pay. requirements, as well as civil servant morale.

The bureau pointed out that the annual survey has been conducted in a professional and objective manner in accordance with the survey method and the agreed list of companies confirmed by the Pay Trend Survey Committee, which has been commissioned to conduct the 2022 Pay Trend Survey in early February.

The Civil Service Bureau stated that during the relevant work, the Secretary will meet with staff representatives according to the usual arrangements, listen to their requirements, and reflect their views to the Chief Executive in Council.

The Chief Executive in Council will make a decision after considering and carefully balancing all the factors under the established mechanism.

Civil servants to reduce labor this year?

Trade union urges suspension of salary survey and continuation of salary freeze Congressman advocates salary increase to boost morale

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-03-31

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