The Compensation Research Team submitted the 2024 Salary Trend Survey Report to the Compensation Trend Survey Committee on the 16th. The preliminary results of the survey show that after deducting the average incremental salary, the net salary trend indices for high, medium, and low-level civil servants are 4.01%, 4.32%, and 5.47% respectively, reaching a new high since 1998.
The committee will review and consider the survey results at a meeting on May 22 and then submit the results to the government. The preliminary survey results are still pending review and confirmation by the committee. The committee will not make any recommendations to the government regarding the adjustment of civil service salaries. Whether preliminary or confirmed, the survey results are not recommendations for the adjustment of civil service salaries by the committee.
The preliminary survey results reflect the salary changes of 134,376 employees from 113 companies participating in the survey during a 12-month period from April 2, 2023, to April 1, 2024. These companies include 83 larger companies (with 100 or more employees) and 30 smaller companies (with 50 to 99 employees).
A spokesperson for the Civil Service Bureau stated that the bureau has received the preliminary results submitted by the Salary Trend Commission.
The government will subtract the relevant salary increment expenditure for each salary grade from the “Salary Trend Total Index” to derive the “Net Salary Trend Index.” Since the 2019-20 fiscal year civil service salary adjustment, the average incremental salary expenses for each salary grade from the fiscal year 1989-90 to 2019-20 (average incremental salary expenses) have been used. The average incremental salary expenses for high, medium, and low salary grades were 1.04%, 1.03%, and 1.16% respectively, or the actual incremental salary expenses for the relevant fiscal year for each salary grade, whichever is lower, to obtain the “Net Salary Trend Index” for each salary grade. The average incremental salary expenses for the three salary grades this year were lower than the actual incremental salary expenses for those grades. Therefore, the above average incremental salary expenses will be used to calculate the “Net Salary Trend Index” for the three salary grades in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
Leung Chau-ting, General Secretary of the Civil Service Unions Federation, expressed the hope that the government would give raises according to the net index. A raise lower than the index may affect the morale of civil servants and make it difficult to compete with the private market. HR consultant Chau Yee-ping pointed out that the net index figure is relatively high due to the unfavorable economic environment, with private enterprises taking a more cautious stance on salary increases, averaging only about 3.3% to 3.5%. If civil servants receive raises based on the net index, it may put pressure on the private market.
The final adjustment of civil service salaries will depend on the Chief Executive and the Executive Council considering a basket of factors before making a decision.