The Civil Service led in the re-employment of older workers when it implemented its re-employment policy from July 2011, six months before the law kicked in in January 2012.
We acknowledge that the Government needs to find an effective and efficient way of implementing re-employment across a large workforce while being fair and reasonable to the affected workers, and at the same time remaining competitive with the private sector.
Hence, the NTUC and public sector unions are happy that the PSD has responded positively to our feedback and calls to review its re-employment pay policy, and welcome the Civil Service's decision to let re-employed Division 4 employees last year, and re-employed Division 3 employees from 1 August 2013 to continue on the same job and the same pay.
PSD's decision to re-employ Division 1 and Division 2 officers on the same grade as far as possible and to retain their pay levels subject to the value of the job will help align public sector outcomes with the broad private sector experience, where recent surveys found 8 in 10 re-employed workers continuing in the same jobs and pay.
The NTUC and public sector unions will also monitor the implementation of this revised approach that enhances the link to the value of the job, and will work closely with PSD toward the common goal of fair and effective re-employment.
Mr Heng Chee How
Deputy Secretary-General
National Trades Union Congress
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Additional quotes from union leaders of the civil service unions:
Mr Ma Wei Cheng, General Secretary, Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE)
“AUPE is pleased that all Division 3 employees will now be offered re- employment on the same job and pay as before their retirement. This is in addition to all Division 4 employees since April 2012 who also did not have any reduction.
As for all Division 1 and 2 employees, they should also be offered re-employment on the same grade. Where this is not possible, they would then be offered one grade below. There may be pay reduction subject to the employee's minimum - maximum wage ratio. In the case of employees in leadership positions, where there is no vacancy in the grade below, he may be offered two grades below.
Any employee who is offered a lower grade and lower pay has to have his roles and responsibilities reduced accordingly. Any employee who is offered re-employment and is unsure of the fairness of the terms is advised to consult with the union. Overall, AUPE is pleased with the improvement in the re-employment terms in the civil service.”
Mr N Thurairajasingam, General Secretary, Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees (AUSBE)
“We are happy that the PSD has listened to the unions and reviewed its re-employment policies. Although there could be a few members who will see some reduction in pay if they are re-employed at a lower substantive grade with reduced responsibilities or if their recommended salary ratio is above for Division 1 and Division 2, the majority will still benefit from these changes.”
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