CHAPTER 5

FUTURE PROGRAMME OF WORK

5.1       The Civil Service Starting Salaries Review will be a major commitment for the Commission in the first half of 1999. Because of the complexity of the survey and the need to cover a target of about 120 companies to make the sample representative, a minimum of four months will be required for the survey. From January to early May, therefore, the Steering Group will be busily engaged in overseeing the survey and analysing the findings. Thereafter, the Commission will formulate its recommendations for submission to the Chief Executive in June, as required by the Administration.

5.2       Notwithstanding this hectic programme, we will continue to discharge our other responsibilities under the Commission's terms of reference and to tender advice on any proposals the Administration may put to us dealing with changes to the pay and conditions of service for individual grades and for the civil service as a whole.

5.3       Through our annual informal meetings with the representatives of the seven major civil service staff associations, we have gained useful understanding of the cares and concerns of civil servants across all ranks. We intend to continue these meetings in the coming year. We will also maintain contact with organisations outside the civil service to keep abreast of developments relevant to the discharge of our duties and responsibilities.