Public hospital doctors are planning a sit-in protest at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday to demand the Hospital Authority increase their pay in line with that of the civil service.
The Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association said on Sunday that pay increases decided by the authority often lagged behind that of the civil service. It cited 2013 as an example, saying doctors were offered smaller increase when compared with civil servants that year, and that many doctors had to take bigger pay cuts than civil servants during economic downturns.
The association described the arrangement as "extremely unfair”, saying it has driven many doctors out of the public health system.
The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Sophia Chan, said the government was highly concerned about the issue. But she indicated there was little that could be done because existing rules do not stipulate that statutory bodies must adopt a pay structure that was identical to the government's.
Chan urged the authority to consider different options to maintain staff morale. The authority said it hoped the planned action will not affect services.
The Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association said on Sunday that pay increases decided by the authority often lagged behind that of the civil service. It cited 2013 as an example, saying doctors were offered smaller increase when compared with civil servants that year, and that many doctors had to take bigger pay cuts than civil servants during economic downturns.
The association described the arrangement as "extremely unfair”, saying it has driven many doctors out of the public health system.
The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Sophia Chan, said the government was highly concerned about the issue. But she indicated there was little that could be done because existing rules do not stipulate that statutory bodies must adopt a pay structure that was identical to the government's.
Chan urged the authority to consider different options to maintain staff morale. The authority said it hoped the planned action will not affect services.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1218071-20151018.htm
