HONG KONG
Public Servants in Hong Kong can expect a pay rise of between 3 and 5 per cent this year — roughly 0.5 per cent better than last year’s increase.
The recommendation for the annual increase comes from the Pay Trend Survey Committee, which includes representatives from business, the professions, Government and the Public Service, and is based on data from private sector increases.
General Manager of human resources consultancy Besteam Personnel, Edmond So said the rise was higher than expected.
“Our research showed private sector wages increasing by no more than 4 per cent,” Mr So said.
“The worsening trade war between China and the United States and a potential slowdown in global economic growth are factors that have made private employers cautious in wage increases.”
He said industries affected by the trade war, such as manufacturing, would see a lower pay rise than those unaffected.
Chair of the Senior Government Officers Association, Steven Wong Hung-lok said the proposed raises were reasonable and were in line with the raises private sector employees had received.
“We still need to have a discussion within our Association before we decide whether to endorse the proposed rises,” Mr Wong said.
He expressed concern over the Government’s practice of discounting the annual pay increments for seniority.
He said there should be a cap on how much could be discounted.
President of the Chinese Civil Servants’ Association, Li Kwai-yin agreed with imposing a cap, but declined to say whether she was satisfied with the proposed rises.
The Committee’s recommendation will need to be endorsed by the Civil Service Bureau and the Executive Council.
Hong Kong, 17 May 2019
