Sound study: Pay Trend Survey Committee Chairman Anthony Cheung says the survey was conducted in a transparent manner.

The Pay Trend Survey Committee has validated its survey findings on the pay trend released earlier.

The survey found that over 144,000 employees in 91 companies have received pay rises ranging from 4.28% to 5.59% from April 2 last year to April 1. Of the 91 companies surveyed, 19 (21%) employ 50 to 99 staff, while 72 (79%) have 100 or more.

Those earning less than $14,330 per month received a pay rise of 4.28%. Those with salaries between $14,330 and $43,940 per month saw a pay rise of 5.24%, while those earning $43,941 to $87,430 per month received a 5.59% rise.

It took into account adjustments to basic salary and additional payments for employees of the surveyed companies relating to cost of living, changes in market rates, general prosperity and company performance, merit and in-scale increment, in accordance with the improved survey methodology.

Civil service

After its meeting today, committee chairman Anthony Cheung said these figures are the result of a survey of the pay trends in the private companies, adding this is a comprehensive survey and the whole process was conducted in a transparent manner. But pay adjustment for the civil service is, however, a separate matter.

The actual level of adjustment will have to be determined by the Government in consultation with the four central staff consultative councils.

The Civil Service Bureau said following the validation of the results of the 2007 Pay Trend Survey (i.e. the gross pay trend indicators), the Government will deduct from them the cost of increments paid to civil servants in 2006-07 to arrive at the net pay trend indicators. After deducting the cost of increments, the net pay trend indicators for the lower, middle and upper civil servant bands will be 3.91%, 4.62% and 4.96%.

In accordance with the established mechanism, the Chief Executive-in-Council will decide the rates of adjustment, if any, to civil service pay for 2007-08 having regard to the net pay trend indicators and other factors, namely, the state of the economy, the Government's fiscal position, changes in the cost of living, staff pay claims and civil service morale. The adjustment, if any, will need to be approved by the Legislative Council Finance Committee.