An annual survey of Hong Kong Public Servants’ pay has recommended an increase of close to two per cent depending on grades — the lowest in a decade.
The recommended increases of between 1.15 per cent and 1.98 per cent, submitted to the official Pay Trend Survey Committee, came as the city’s economy reels from the double blow of the coronavirus pandemic after months of political unrest that has pushed it into recession.
The city’s latest jobless rate is 5.2 per cent, while the economy shrank 8.9 per cent in the first quarter.
An Executive Council Member and even a union representing the workers has have called for salaries to be frozen altogether, saying Public Servants should share the pain with other residents.
Based on the survey, the highest earners in the Public Service would receive a 1.68 per cent pay increase, while those in the middle ranks would have a 1.98 per cent rise and the lowest earners 1.15 per cent.
These are the lowest rates for frontline and middle-ranking staff since 2010, when rises were 0.56 per cent.
Senior officers received a 1.6 per cent rise that year.
The recommendations took into account annual Public Service pay increments for seniority.
Chair of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants’ Association, Li Kwai-yin said the Association appreciated that Hong Kong was in a very difficult time and would not rule out calling for a pay freeze for the coming year.
New People’s Party lawmaker, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee (pictured), who is also an adviser to Chief Executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, said she supported a pay freeze.
“Civil servants should go through thick and thin with the citizens, with many of them already losing their jobs,” Ms Ip said.
“Senior staff have enjoyed decent pay rises over the past few years,” she said.
Hong Kong, 20 May 2020
