Hong Kong MTR Corp pay rise: non-managerial staff to get up to 6.15 per cent increase, but mark for most workers still below that of civil servants
- Mark of 4.1 per cent increase for most however, still below 4.65 per cent for civil servants in same pay bracket
- Outstanding employees will get discretionary bonus as part of rail giant’s bid to retain talent
Non-managerial staff of Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will get a pay rise this year of between 2.05 per cent and 6.15 per cent, but the increase for most employees will still be below that of civil servants in the lower to middle tiers.
The rail operator on Wednesday said most of its workers would get a 4.1 per cent salary increase in 2023 – lower than the 4.65 per cent for government staff at the corresponding level.
MTR employees who performed well would receive discretionary bonuses, it added.
William Siu Wai-hang, chairman of the Hong Kong Railway Employees Union, said employees who received a 4.1 per cent pay rise would be given a performance-based bonus of seven weeks’ salary. Those who received a 6.15 per cent increase would receive an 8½ weeks bonus, he added.
Lam Wai-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade representing 5,000 MTR workers, said the pay rise was less than the 7 per cent expected and not enough to keep wages ahead of inflation after salaries were frozen in 2020 and 2021.
“Our salaries should be more competitive than the market, and even set an example to be the market leader,” he said. “The current salary level is not only insufficient to retain existing talent but also inadequate in attracting new blood.”
The MTR Corp did not consult the unions before adjusting the salary level, Lam added, urging the rail giant to establish a negotiation mechanism.