WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986
PAY LEVEL STUDIES TO BE SYNCHRONISED
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PAY LEVEL STUDIES IN RESPECT OF DIRECTORATE OFFICERS AND NON-DIRECTORATE STAFF IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL BE SYNCHRONISED IN FUTURE TO AVOID A REPETITION OF THE DISAGREEMENT THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXPERIENCED RECENTLY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO SHORTLY INVITE THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE TO REVIEW THE CIVIL SERVICE CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY,
THIS WOULD INCLUDE AN EXAMINATION OF THE REPRESENTATION OF NON-DIRECTORATE STAFF IN THE STAFF COUNCILS, HE SAID, NOTING THAT THE LAST COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE STANDING COMMISSION IN 1980.
+ALL THOSE CONCERNED WILL BE GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO FORWARD THEIR VIEWS, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID ADDED THAT THE STANDING COMMISSION WOULD CONDUCT A PAY LEVEL SURVEY THIS YEAR TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE PRESENT LEVELS OF REMUNERATION OF CIVIL SERVANTS, INCLUDING SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS, WERE BROADLY IN LINE WITH THOSE OF EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THE SURVEY FINDINGS, TOGETHER WITH THE STANDING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS, WOULD BE AVAILABLE EARLY IN 1987.
+STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AND THOSE INTERESTED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL BE INVITED TO ADVISE THE STANDING COMMISSION ON MATTERS CONCERNING THE PAY LEVEL SURVEY AT VARIOUS STAGES THROUGH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE SAID.
ON THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD, SINCE 1983, PURSUED A STRICT PROGRAMME OF RESTRAINT, LIMITING STAFF INCREASES TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND INCREASING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE THROUGH VALUE FOR MONEY STUDIES.
HE SAID: +AS A RESULT, THE GROWTH HAS BEEN HELD TO A LOW FIGURE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
+IN 1985-86 ABOUT 1 200 ADDITIONAL POSTS WERE CREATED ON A TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT OF ABOUT 180 000. THIS INCREASE IS LESS THAN ONE PER CENT.
+DURING THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR THE CIVIL SERVICE IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY TWO TO 2.5 PER CENT.+
/SIR DAVID