Civil servants in departments making staff redundant will be given six months' salary and pensions if they go voluntarily, it has been recommended. The proposal was made in a consultation paper to unions. For example, a clerical officer who had worked for the Government for 25 years would be entitled to a lump sum pension of $1.4 million, a monthly pension of $7,541 until death and compensation of $160,830. The calculation is based on a monthly salary of $26,805. An officer who retires under normal circumstances would not be entitled to his pension until he reached retirement age. The Civil Service Bureau said the proposal was similar to the arrangement for cancellation of posts. 'Three criteria are to be studied in determining the compensation package. Fairness, attractiveness, and cost-effectiveness,' the bureau said. Leung Chi-chiu, chairman of the Senior Non-Expatriate Officers Association, supported the proposal. 'If there is staff redundancy, it is better to encourage them to quit as early as possible to save taxpayers' money,' he said. The Government said the plan would apply to grades such as executive officers and clerical officers made redundant due to Tung Chee-hwa's cost-cutting exercise.
