XN000022-1983-03-24 — Page 22

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1983

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THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IF THE PAY TREND SURVEY INDICATORS HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF PAY AND BENEFITS BETWEEN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH A METHOD SUGGESTED BY THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN THE REPORT NO. 9 PUBLISHED TODAY, THE RESULTS WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN FIVE PER CENT.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE ALLOCATION OF ABOUT $690 MILLION FOR THE PAY AWARD, INCLUDING $224 MILLION TO PROVIDE FOR APPROPRIATE INCREASES IN GRANTS TO SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS,

STANDING COMMISSION'S REPORT NO 9 ****

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN ITS SECOND REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY POLICY (REPORT NO 9).

THE COMMISSION'S INTERIM (FIRST) REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY POLICY (REPORT NO 7) WAS PUBLISHED IN MARCH 1982. THIS SECOND REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN DECEMBER 1982.

THE COMMISSION'S REPORT IS CONCERNED MAINLY WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAKING GENERAL CIVIL SERVICE PAY ADJUSTMENTS. IT RECOMMENDED THAT THE PAY TREND SURVEY SYSTEM, WITH CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURVEY METHODOLOGY, SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR ADJUSTING GENERAL CIVIL SERVICE PAY.

THE COMMISSION HAS AGAIN EMPHASISED ITS PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION (IN REPORT NO 7) THAT ACCOUNT SHOULD BE TAKEN OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF PAY AND OTHER BENEFITS IN BOTH THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN DETERMINING THE GENERAL LEVELS OF CIVIL SERVICE PAY. IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THIS POLICY FURTHER, THE COMMISSION INTENDS IN THE LONGER TERM TO CARRY OUT PAY LEVEL SURVEYS OF COMPARABLE JOBS IN BOTH SECTORS, AND TO UNDERTAKE REVIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

HOWEVER, BEFORE ANY PROGRESS CAN BE MADE IN EITHER OF THESE TWO AREAS, THE COMMISSION HAS POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL TO DETERMINE WHICH FRINGE BENEFITS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND TO CONSTRUCT AN ACCEPTABLE BASIS FOR VALUING THE VARIOUS BENEFITS.

THE COMMISSION HAS ALSO RECOMMENDED TWO MEASURES FOR APPLICATION IN 1983 TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENCE IN TOTAL PAY PACKAGES BETWEEN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THESE ARE THAT:

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