About SCCS
Description of work
Established in 1979, the main function of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCCS) is to advise and make recommendations to the Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on the principles and practices governing pay, conditions of service and salary structure of the non-directorate civil service, other than judicial officers and disciplined services staff. The decision as to whether the advice should be accepted rests with Government.
The Pay Trend Survey Committee (PTSC) is an independent body established in 1983 by the Government on the advice of SCCS. The main function of the PTSC is to commission the annual pay trend survey, analyse the results of the survey, ensure that the agreed criteria for the interpretation of the data collected have been properly applied and agree on its results.
Terms of reference
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To advise and make recommendations to the Chief Executive in respect of the non-directorate civil service, other than judicial officers and disciplined services staff, on
- the principles and practices governing grade, rank and salary structure;
- the salary and structure of individual grades;
- whether overall reviews of pay scales (as opposed to reviews of the salary of individual grades) should continue to be based on surveys of pay trends in the private sector conducted by the Pay Survey and Research Unit, or whether some other mechanism should be substituted;
- the methodology for surveys of pay trends in the private sector conducted by the Pay Survey and Research Unit, subject to advice under I(c) and having regard to the advice of the Pay Trend Survey Committee (PTSC);
- matters relating to those benefits, other than salary, which SCCS advises as being relevant to the determination of the civil service remuneration package, including the introduction of new benefits or proposed changes to existing benefits;
- suitable procedures and machinery to enable staff associations and staff to discuss with management their views on matters within the terms of reference of SCCS;
- the circumstances in which it would be appropriate for SCCS itself to consider any issue, and how staff associations and management might present their views to SCCS in such circumstances; and
- such matters as the Chief Executive may refer to SCCS.
- SCCS shall keep the matters within its terms of reference under continuing review, and recommend to the Chief Executive any necessary changes.
- SCCS shall give due weight to any wider community interest,including financial and economic considerations, which in its view are relevant.
- SCCS shall give due weight to the need for good staff relations within the Civil Service, and in tendering its advice shall be free to make any recommendations which would contribute to this end.
- In considering its recommendations and advice, SCCS shall not prejudice the 1968 Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Main Staff Associations (1998 Adapted Version).
- The staff associations making up the Staff Side of the Senior Civil Service Council and the Model Scale 1 Staff Consultative Council may jointly or individually refer matters relating to civil service salaries or conditions of service to SCCS.
- The heads of departments may refer matters relating to the structure, salaries or conditions of service of individual grades to SCCS.
- SCCS shall not consider cases of individual officers.
- SCCS may wish to consider in the light of experience whether changes in its composition or role are desirable.
- In carrying out its terms of reference, SCCS should ensure that adequate opportunities are provided for staff associations and management to express their views. SCCS may also receive views from other bodies which in its view have a direct interest.