CIVIL SERVICE SALARY INCREASES (Implementation Date)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Finance why it was found necessary to differentiate in the implementation date of the recently announced salary increases between those in the Professional and Upper Divisions of the Civil Service and those in the lower Divisions.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: The Member for Anson's question is deliberately misleading. It was not, to quote the Member, "found necessary to differentiate in the implementation date" for the "Professional and Upper Divisions of the Civil Service and those in the lower Divisions." The Professional Services Review Committee was set up to specifically look at the salaries and terms and conditions of service for the Administrative and Professional Services. The Committee came out with its recommendations which were accepted by Government and announced in this House on 3rd March 1982. In accordance with the long established practice adopted by the Finance Ministry and accepted by the various civil service unions, implementation was with effect from 1st April 1982 which is the first of the month following the official acceptance and announcement of the recommendations.

It was also announced in this House at the same time that the revisions for the Administrative and Professional Services were announced, that all the other services would be reviewed by the Finance Ministry which expected to be able to complete the whole task by the end of June 1982. I am happy to say the Finance Ministry was able to keep to this target despite a very tight schedule and having to negotiate its proposals with several civil service unions. In accordance with the established practice, the implementation dates for all these were the first of the month following official acceptance and announcement of the proposals, or agreement with the unions concerned where negotiations with the unions where necessary. The dates of implementation for services other than the Administrative and Professional and excluding the SAF are as follows: 1st April 1982 No. of Officers Division IV grades 13,935 Daily Rated grades 10,532 Senior Police Officers 534 Sub-total 25,001 1st May 1982 No. of officers Education Service 19,139 CPIB Senior Officers 31 Narcotics Senior Officers 14 Sub-total 19,184 1st June 1982 All other services and grades in Divisions I, II and III 28,123 Sub-total 28,123 TOTAL: 72,308

It will be seen from this that both the Division IV and Daily Rated grades shared the same implementation date of 1st April 1982 as the Administrative and Professional Services and there was no discrimination, intended or otherwise, between the upper and lower divisions as the Member for Anson attempts to make out.