Pay demands of Hong Kong civil servants are unrealistic
Unions are holding out for a 5 per cent increase across the board at a time when those in the private sector can expect far less through rises based on performance
Hong Kong civil servants are among the highest paid in the world. Yet they still won’t miss a chance to ask for more, as reflected in their demands for a bigger pay rise this year.
Oblivious to the fact that the offer of an up to 4.51 per cent rise already makes most in the private sector envious, if not enraged, staff unionists want a 5 per cent rise across the board.
A 4.51 per cent pay rise? No, give us 5 per cent, frontline civil servants say
It is a standing practice for the staff side to make counterproposals before the Executive Council makes a final decision on the annual pay adjustment.
As union leaders, they are expected to fight for the best interests of staff, but the demand does not reflect well on a bureaucracy that is seen by some as increasingly bloated and overpaid.
Startlingly, expenditure related to the 171,000 civil servants amounted to HK$116.4 billion in the 2017-18 financial year, up from HK$110.5 billion the previous year.
The offers of a 4.06 per cent rise for top and 4.51 per cent for the middle and lower bands are expected to cost taxpayers billions of dollars more in the coming year.
