Civil Servants Set To Get Pay Rises Of Up To 7.26pc

Civil servants are on track to receive a pay rise of up to 7.26 percent after a two-year freeze on their salaries.

The latest pay trend survey released on Wednesday recommended salary increases of 2.04 percent for junior civil servants, 4.55 percent for middle-ranking workers and 7.26 percent for senior staff – after deducting the costs on increments.

Lee Luen-fai, chairman of the government-appointed Pay Trend Committee, said the proposals took into account the changes in salaries of nearly 130,000 employees in some 110 companies in the past year.

He believes the figures accurately reflect the situation in the job market, noting the economy had grown by around six percent last year.

"We just reflect the market," said Lee. "To me it's correct and accurate figures. We accept that."

Lee also pointed out that the majority of the companies it surveyed had decided on their own pay adjustments before February and private companies may have spent more on bonuses to retain senior managers, and this, in turn, had contributed to the higher pay rise suggested for senior government officers.

He said the committee would discuss the figures with civil service unions before submitting them to the government for consideration next week.

The Civil Service Bureau said it had received the tentative findings and that the Executive Council will consider a range of factors before deciding the final pay awards.

A spokesman said these include the state of Hong Kong's economy, the government's fiscal position, changes in the cost of living and civil service morale.

The government has frozen the salaries of the 180,000-strong civil service in the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.