'Pay Decision Doesn't Take Shine Off Government Jobs'

The government on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that the civil service might become a less attractive career option in light of planned 2.5-percent across-the-board pay rises this year.

The government-appointed Pay Trend Survey Committee had suggested salary increases of 2.04 percent for junior civil servants, 4.55 percent for middle-ranking workers and 7.26 percent for senior staff, following a two-year pay freeze.

At a Legco panel meeting, finance sector lawmaker Ronick Chan noted that some people believe the civil service has now become less attractive as a career option given “the departure from the pay trend indicators”.

In response, Civil Service Secretary Ingrid Yeung said that she was not worried about the turnover of civil servants.

“Some civil servants will certainly resign to take up other jobs, but the civil service remains attractive,” she said.

“When we have, say, dozens of jobs on offer, we receive thousands of applications. So, we are not very concerned about the attractiveness of civil service jobs just because of the pay rise in one or two particular years,” said Yeung.

She added that she hopes Legco’s finance committee will scrutinise the funding application for the planned pay adjustment at a special meeting on July 22.