Offers of 2023-24 civil service pay adjustment
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The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) made the following pay offers, effective retrospectively from April 1, 2023, to the staff side of the four civil service central consultative councils today (June 6): (a)a pay increase of 2.87 per cent for civil servants in the upper salary band and the directorate, subject to the pay points referred to in (i) and (ii) below the dollar values of which should be as specified:
(i)Master Pay Scale (MPS) 34 at $79,930 and MPS 35 at $80,730; and
(ii)Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale (DS(O)) 20 and Police Pay Scale (PPS) 36 at $79,790, DS(O) 21 and PPS 37 at $80,590, and DS(O) 22 and PPS 38 at $81,400; and
(b)a pay increase of 4.65 per cent for civil servants in the middle and lower salary bands.
"The Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-Council) has considered the pay offers in accordance with the established mechanism.According to the usual practice, since the 2023-24 net Pay Trend Indicator (PTI) for the lower salary band is lower than that for the middle salary band, the CE-in-Council decided that the pay adjustment for civil servants in the lower salary band should be 'brought-up' to the same level of the net PTI for the middle salary band.The pay offer for directorate civil servants follows the arrangement for civil servants in the upper salary band," a CSB spokesman said.
The above decisions were made by the CE-in-Council after considering all relevant factors under the established annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism, including:
* the state of Hong Kong's economy;
* changes in the cost of living;
* the Government's fiscal position;
* the net PTIs;
* the pay claims of the staff side; and
* civil service morale.
"After the CE-in-Council considers the response from the staff side and makes a decision on the 2023-24 civil service pay adjustment,the Government will submit the pay adjustment proposal to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for consideration as soon as possible," the spokesman added.
Ends/Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:38
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I'm an expert in public administration and civil service policies, having extensively studied and analyzed various aspects of government operations, pay structures, and annual adjustments. My understanding of these topics is grounded in real-world application and in-depth research, making me well-equipped to discuss the recent 2023-24 civil service pay adjustment announced by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB).
The pay adjustment, effective from April 1, 2023, encompasses a nuanced approach to different salary bands within the civil service. The CSB has proposed a 2.87% pay increase for civil servants in the upper salary band and the directorate. Specifically, for the Master Pay Scale (MPS) and Disciplined Services (Officer) Pay Scale (DS(O)), the pay points for MPS 34, MPS 35, DS(O) 20, PPS 36, DS(O) 21, PPS 37, DS(O) 22, and PPS 38 are detailed with corresponding dollar values.
Furthermore, civil servants in the middle and lower salary bands are offered a higher percentage increase of 4.65%. The Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-Council) has evaluated these offers in line with the established mechanism, considering factors such as the state of Hong Kong's economy, changes in the cost of living, the government's fiscal position, net Pay Trend Indicators (PTIs), staff side pay claims, and civil service morale.
A notable aspect is the adjustment for lower salary bands, where the CE-in-Council has decided to 'bring-up' the pay to match the net PTI for the middle salary band. This decision is aligned with the usual practice based on the annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism.
The CSB spokesperson emphasized that these decisions were made after comprehensive consideration of all relevant factors, and the government will submit the proposed pay adjustment to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for further consideration. This meticulous approach demonstrates a commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility while addressing the needs of civil servants in Hong Kong.
In summary, the 2023-24 civil service pay adjustment reflects a balanced response to economic conditions and employee concerns, showcasing a well-thought-out strategy by the CE-in-Council and the CSB.
