Comparison Of Pay Rates

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 14

Comparison Of Pay Rates

(Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 24. The State Services Commission proposes to set up a pay research unit to study Public Service wage and salary rates in comparison with private employers’ pay scales. In its annual report, presented to Parliament today, the commission says the unit will be a statistical and factfinding body and will not play an active role in State services wage and salary negotiations.

The unit’s findings, says the commission, will be available to both the official and staff sides and can be used by the advisory committee on higher salaries when that body is set up. The commission says that since the system of ruling rates surveys was introduced in 19! I, it has been customary ' i move service rates gene.ally in line with increases shown to be warranted from a survey of rates paid outside to tradesmen and labourers. “It has not generally been found practicable to conduct separate ruling rate surveys for other groups, such as clerks. “To help apply the fair

relativity principle to other groups it is proposed that a pay research unit be established as has been done in a number of countries including the United Kingdom and Canada. “It is proposed that the unit be established as a' branch of the Department of Statistics " The commission says it is envisaged that, initially, the unit would examine the job content of various positions in the state services and determine whether equivalent occupations exist in private employment. “To assist in applying the fair relativity principle, the

unit will, where appropriate, survey comparable occupational groups in private employment to assess average levels of remuneration and margins for skill and responsibility in the form of both direct salary or wage payments and fringe benefits.

“As time permits, the unit will make other wage and salary payment studies and will provide factual information which will be of use in state services wage and salary negotiations. “These studies will include international comparisons of pay rates and margins,” the commission says.