XN000022-1974-12-24 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1974

ADDITIONAL SUBVENTION FOR VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES

FOR ADJUSTMENT IN STAFF SALARIES *******

THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HAS ALLOWED AN ADDITIONAL SUBVENTION NOT EXCEEDING $4 MILLION FOR AN ADJUSTMENT IN SALARIES OF STAFF OF VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES BACKDATED TO APRIL 1, 1974.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE ADDITIONAL SUBVENTION WAS TO ASSIST VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF THEIR STAFF IN LINE WITH THE GENERAL INCREASE AWARDED TO GOVERNMENT STAFF THIS YEAR.

+WHEN GOVERNMENT INCREASE THE SALARIES OF ITS STAFF, MANY OF THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES ALSO INCREASE THE SALARIES TO THEIR STAFF FROM THEIR OWN RESOURCES, BUT SOME WERE UNABLE TO DO SO AND THE ADJUSTMENTS NOW BEING AWARDED WILL TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+IN DECIDING THE INCREASE FOR EACH AGENCY, THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID TO ITS STAFF HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND EACH MEMBER OF THE STAFF HAS BEEN ALLOWED A NOTIONAL INCREASE EQUIVALENT TO THAT WHICH HIS SALARY COUNTERPART IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE RECEIVED.+

HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO AN AGENCY WILL ALSO DEPEND UPON THE PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL AGENCY SALARY BILL WHICH IS ACTUALLY SUBVENTED BY GOVERNMENT.

+THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A SALARY INCREASE FOR VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES HAS BEEN BACKDATED, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.

COMMENTING ON NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING +FREEZING+ SUBVENTIONS TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES IN THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS JUST SPECULATION.

+WE ARE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR SUBVENTIONS FOR THE NEXT YEAR IN THE NORMAL WAY. HE SAID.

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