(17490) Dd.897502 5m 2/73 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
REFERENCES
NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES
On
1. WHY CAN YOU NOT INSTRUCT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PAY THE SHORTHAND AND AUDIO TYPISTS SALARY INCREASES EQUIVALENT TO THOSE GIVEN TO OTHER FEMALE STAFF UNDER THE EQUAL PAY SCHEME?
The equal pay scheme applied to staff in grades where, prior to 1969, separate scales existed for male and female staff doing similar work. It did not apply to the shorthand and audio typist where there was no separate male pay scale. three occasions in 1965, 1971 and 1976, independent commissions have considered the effect on this grade's pay of the changes in the salaries paid to staff covered by the equal pay scheme. The salary scales subsequently recommended reflected this. The scales are based on comparison with salaries paid in the private sector.
2.
ARE THE GOVERNMENT SHORTHAND AND AUDIO TYPISTS UNDERPAID?
No: their salary scales are based on comparison with salaries paid by employers in the private sector. The comparison is made by the independent Pay Investigation Unit of Hong Kong, whose operation is comparable to that of the Pay Research Unit in this country. The salary levels are approximately equal to those of similar staff in the UK.
3. WHY THEN DID THE SURVEY UNDERTAKEN BY THE HONG KONG PROD-- UCTIVITY CENTRE SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT SCALES WERE BELOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR AVERAGE?
This survey was not limited to staff in comparable grades doing comparable work. Also, it did not take full account of fringe benefits.