TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1977
NEW PAY STRUCTURE FOR P.W.D. TECHNICAL GRADES BROADLY
FAIR
-
· COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY CONCLUDES
****
THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO AN IMPROVED PAY STRUCTURE FOR TECHNICAL GRADES IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE NEW STRUCTURE IS 'EROADLY FAIR'.
THE INQUIRY, CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR WILLOUGHBY OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, WAS ORDERED BY THE GOVERNOR AFTER SOME MEMBERS OF THE TECHNICAL GRADES HAD REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE NEW PAY STRUCTURE DESPITE LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MANAGEMENT.
THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD A CASE FOR EVEN HIGHER RATES OF PAY THAN THE IMPROVED ONES OFFERED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
PROFESSOR WILLOUGHBY'S REPORT WAS RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) AFTER MORE THAN SIX WEEKS OF DETAILED INVESTIGATION.
A TOTAL OF 15 SUEMISSIONS FROM GOVERNMENT STAFF ASSOCIATIONS, GROUPS OF OFFICERS, INDIVIDUALS AND MANAGEMENT WERE CONSIDERED BY PROFESSOR WILLOUGHBY.
THESE SUBMISSIONS WERE FOLLOWED UP BY QUESTIONS TO SENIOR GOVERNMENT STAFF AND TO EIGHT OF THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS. A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WERE ALSO HELD.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY WERE: +HAVING REGARD TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PAY POLICY AS SUMMARISED IN THE 'STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND AIMS IN CIVIL SERVICE REMUNERATION' TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE PROPOSALS APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT GRADES IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ARE FAIR OR OTHERWISE AND TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR WHETHER THOSE PROPOSALS SHOULD BE AMENDED.+
PROFESSOR WILLOUGHBY'S CONCLUSIONS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO MAIN SECTIONS - THOSE CONCERNED WITH ORGANISATIONAL PROBLEMS AND THOSE CONCERNED WITH PAY RATES.
ON ORGANISATIONAL ASPECTS, HE CONCLUDES THAT:
(A) THIS WAS A HIGHLY COMPLEX EXERCISE WHICH INEVITABLY
INVOLVED COMPROMISES WHICH WOULD NOT PLEASE EVERYBODY:
(B) SOME CRITICISM CAN BE MADE OF THE WAY IN WHICH CONSULTA- TIONS WITH CERTAIN STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WERE HANDLED, NEVERTHELESS THE REVIEW INVOLVED EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS AT ALL LEVELS-
(C)
(2)
THE ORGANISATION, OF THE PWD IS ESSENTIALLY A MATTER FOR MANAGEMENT'S DISCRETION=
THERE MAY BE TEETHING PROBLENS WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AE.. STRUCTURE AND THE "ANAGEMENT SHOULD KEEP THE JOB SPECIFICATIONS UNDER REVIEW TO ENSURE THEY PROPERLY REFLECT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS ON THE GROUND-
/(E) THE WHOLE