ENG-2007 — Page 57

Constitution and Administration | 21

The Government has developed, in consultation with

in consultation with the staff sides' representatives and the advisory bodies on civil services salaries and conditions of service, a general framework for the conduct of future pay level surveys and a general framework for the application of the pay level survey results. Based on the general framework for the application of the pay level survey as endorsed by the Chief Executive in Council in April 2007, civil service pay as at April 1, 2006 was broadly comparable with that of the private sector and no adjustment was required as at that date.

The Government has invited the relevant advisory bodies on civil service salaries and conditions of service to conduct grade structure reviews for the directorate and disciplined services grades, both of which have not been included in the 2006 pay level survey. The Government has also invited the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service to conduct grade structure reviews for selected non-directorate civilian grades facing serious recruitment and retention difficulties. It is expected that the advisory bodies will complete the reviews in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Apart from salaries, civil servants are eligible for fringe benefits depending on their terms of appointment, rank, salary point, length of service, and other eligibility rules. The Government has been taking active steps over the years to modernise the provision of fringe benefits to civil servants, including ceasing or stricter control of such allowances to new recruits in keeping with present day conditions. Having concluded a comprehensive review in 2006, the Government has implemented further measures to modernise the fringe benefits package.

3. Improving the Entry and Exit System

The New Entry System for civil service recruits has given the Government greater flexibility in making appointments while a new retirement benefits system, the Civil Service Provident Fund Scheme, provides retirement benefits for officers appointed on New Entry terms.

The Management-initiated Retirement Scheme is now in place to allow the Government, for the purpose of organisational improvement, to initiate the early retirement of individual directorate officers.

4. Providing Diversified Training

The Civil Service Training and Development Institute, under the Civil Service Bureau, formulates training policies and gives support to bureaux/departments in training and development matters. The institute focuses on four core service areas: senior executive development, national studies programmes, human resource management consultancy service and promotion of a continuous learning culture in the civil service.

For senior executive development, a variety of leadership programmes led by world-class professionals and academics are offered to directorate and potential directorate officers. Advisory services for human resources development and directorate succession planning are provided to departments. Attachment and