NGOs Blowing Public Cash On Fat Cat Bonuses: Union

Major NGOs have come under fire for allegedly overpaying their top executives, with a union accusing the groups of giving generous allowances without adequate justification.

The Social Welfare Organisations Employees Union looked into the financial statements of 66 non-governmental organisations that each get over HK$10 million in government subsidies each year and rely mostly on public funds.

It said about half the groups give cash allowances to senior executives, and the biggest such payment was a bonus of HK$760,000 split between two executive directors at the Po Leung Kuk. Top staff at the Society of Boys’ Centres, meanwhile, got a combined HK$300,000.

Union spokesman Issac Tsang said there is no clear justification for these allowances, and the NGOs aren't so generous to their frontline staff.

"The frontline staff suffer from low salaries, lower than those in the same ranks in the Social Welfare Department," Tsang said, adding that such discrepancies between senior and junior workers are unfair.

In response, the Po Leung Kuk said it offers "reasonable pay" to staff, adding that the allowances for the two senior executives were made in line with their job appraisals and duties.

The Society of Boys' Centres said the allowances it handed out were calculated according to staff appraisal results.