Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ4: Social workers on non-civil service contracts

Following is a question by the Hon Fernando Cheung and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative council today (April 27):


Question:


I have recently received a number of complaints alleging that the social workers (SWs) employed by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) on non-civil service contracts are paid salaries much lower than those of civil servants holding posts with similar entry requirements and duties. Moreover, SWD does not state in the job advertisements the ranks of such posts on non-civil service contracts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:


(a) of the number of SWs on non-civil service contracts recruited by SWD in each recruitment exercise over the past five years, their salaries, the rank(s) of the civil service post(s) to which their duties correspond, and the differences between their salaries and the mid-point salary of the civil servant post(s) with similar duties;


(b) of the number of SWs on non-civil service contracts currently employed by SWD, the rank(s) of civil service post(s) to which their duties correspond, their average length of service, and the number of SWs recruited on contract terms who were subsequently appointed as civil servants over the past five years;


(c) of the criteria on which SWD based for determining the remuneration of such employees on non-civil service contracts;


(d) whether SWD has assessed the adverse impact brought about by the disparity of pay between employees on non-civil service contracts and civil servants with similar duties, and how SWD will appease the employees on non-civil service contracts; and


(e) why SWD has not stated the ranks of such posts on contract terms in the recruitment exercise, and whether SWD has considered the possibility that this may cause the length of service of the SWD employees concerned to be disregarded by social service organisations adopting civil service pay scales when these employees take up jobs in such organisations?


Reply:


Madam President,


(a) In the past few years, SWD had to recruit one non-civil service contract (NCSC) Assistant Social Work Officer (ASWO) and one NCSC Social Work Assistant (SWA) to implement a time-limited project. Details of each recruitment exercise is shown in the Annex.


Their responsibilities are similar to the civil service posts of ASWO and SWA respectively whilst their salaries are the starting salaries of comparable civil service posts. The difference between their salary and the mid-point salary of comparable civil service posts are $14,050 (ASWO) and $7,415 (SWA) respectively.


(b) At present, SWD does not employ any social workers on NCSC terms. It is because the two NCSC staff recruited in 1999 were recruited as civil service ASWO and civil service SWA respectively through open recruitment in 2001. These two officers were given appointment on new agreement terms under the new civil service entry system. As for the three NCSC staff recruited in 2002, they had left service in 2002 and 2003. Therefore, the concerned question is not applicable.


At present, there is no specific mechanism for NCSC staff to be converted into civil servants. The Civil Service Bureau Circular No. 2/2001 issued by Civil Service Bureau in January 2001 announced the arrangements for Heads of Department / Grade to employ NCSC staff. According to this Circular, there is no guarantee for NCSC staff for further employment beyond the current contract. There should also be no claim for offer of further employment or for such offer on the same terms and conditions as under the current contract. However, NCSC staff may apply for other government jobs, be it civil service vacancies or other NCSC jobs, through open recruitment in competition with other applicants as appropriate.


(c) In determining the remuneration of contract staff, SWD will mainly refer to the arrangements as promulgated in the Civil Service Bureau Circular No. 2/2001 mentioned above. Besides, reference will also be made to the private employment market in terms of pay level and the recruitment situation of jobs of similar entry requirements and work nature, in order that the remuneration set by SWD is comparable to the level in the private market.


(d) SWD started employing different categories of NCSC staff in 1999 and has continued this practice since then. No adverse impact on the Department has been observed.


The scope of duties and pay level (including a 15 per cent gratuity payment) of contract social workers have been clearly stated in the recruitment advertisement recently posted out by SWD. In applying for the post, applicants should be well aware of the employment conditions and are willing to accept the terms of employment. SWD does not believe that the pay level will arouse the discontent of the new recruits.


(e) Since the post of contract social worker is a NCSC post, there is no rank for the post. In considering the recruitment of NCSC social workers, SWD had made reference to all relevant factors. These include the post titles of jobs of similar work nature and the remuneration of those jobs, whether offered by the government or private employment market, which require a university degree as one of the entry requirements. As they are non-civil servants, contract social workers will not be eligible for promotion or transfer to any posts in the civil service.


SWD believes that social service organisations would, in the light of an individual employee's work nature of previous jobs and actual work experience, make an appropriate decision as to whether the length of service of the staff should be recognised.




Ends/Wednesday, April 27, 2005

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