NTUC's response to Civil Service Mid-Year Payment 2007
1 June 2007
1 The Public Service Division (PSD), Prime Minister’s Office, has announced today the Civil Service mid-year payment for 2007, whereby civil servants will receive a mid-year Annual Variable Component (AVC) of 0.5 month and a one-off additional dollar quantum of $220 this year.
2 In the light of a strong economic growth last year and a fairly robust growth for first quarter 2007, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and its affiliated civil service unions are pleased that the Government continues to reward civil servants, especially the lower wage group, with the AVC and one-off additional dollar quantum formula. We are glad that this is in line with the National Wages Council’s recommendations to use variable payments to reward workers and to grant a special bonus to reward workers during good economic performances.
3 The AVC also reflects the Government’s recognition of civil servants’ contributions to an effective and efficient civil service that helps keep our economy steaming ahead. This year’s AVC formula has been concluded after close consultation and negotiations between representatives from NTUC and the civil service unions with PSD. And we are pleased that PSD has taken our views to reward the lower wage civil servants more adequately.
4 We also hope that the private sector will take cue from the civil service to reward their workers appropriately – ensuring that built-in wage increase would be sustainable in the long-run and lag behind productivity growth, and to pay particular attention to lower wage workers. We urge the tripartite partners and workers to continue to work hard together so that Singapore’s economy will continue to perform well in 2007.
Mdm Halimah Yacob
Assistant Secretary-General
National Trades Union Congress
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Additional Quotes from Unionists:
a) Mr Teo Yock Ngee
General Secretary, Amalgamated Union of Public Employees, and
Secretary for Financial Affairs, National Trades Union Congress
“The AUPE noted that the Singapore economy has continued to perform well. And in view of a better forecast of 5 to 7 per cent GDP growth by the Ministry of Trade and Industry this year, the PSD has decided to pay the same mid-year AVC of 0.5 month and a one-off dollar quantum of $220 this year. Our union is very happy with this decision and thinks that it is fair and reasonable in these circumstances.”
b) Mr G Muthukumarasamy
General Secretary, Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers
“AUPDRW is pleased that this is the third year in a row whereby the Government has granted a one-off dollar quantum for civil servants in addition to the AVC. For AUPDRW’s union members, who are mostly daily-rated workers, the AVC and one-off dollar quantum would go a long way to help them and their families cope with living expenses. I am sure that our union members appreciate the Government’s efforts in thanking and rewarding lower wage civil servants for their valuable contributions towards the civil service and the economy.”
