Introduction - NGOs Salary Survey Report

The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (hereafter the "HKCSS") has conducted the annual NGOs Salary Survey (hereafter the "Survey") for the social service sector since 2003. Overseen by a Working Group composed of representatives and experts from the social service sector, the business sector and human resources management professionals, and conducted by an independent survey consultant, the Survey aims to provide the most updated reference to assist Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in positioning their salary and benefits practices. Starting from 2016, Salary Survey is conducted annually while Benefit Survey is conducted biennially. However, a pilot study on comparing the salary data between subvented and non-subvented agencies was introduced in last year. Hence, the benefit survey is conducted in this year.

In the past decades, the operating environment of the social service sector has kept on changing. The introduction of the Lump Sum Grant Subvention (LSGS) has transformed the resources management of the NGOs in the social service sector, especially in human resources management. NGOs are given the freedom to manage their staff structures, staff-mixes and the levels of salary and benefit under the LSG funding mode. To facilitate NGOs in determining the levels of salary and benefit with flexibility to meet their organisational requirements, more relevant and timely reference on the salary and benefit policy and strategy of the sector should be made available.

The scopes of the Survey and salary data collected have been modified to cope with the changing environment and practices of the sector. Since 2018, the survey has covered full-time staff in-post’s salary data disregarding their salary scales following the Master Pay Scale (MPS) or not. Only snapshot staff’s salary data have been excluded. Information on the salary structure with both starting and maximum salaries, and detailed salary data for the given 64 benchmarked positions are covered. Apart from the availability of salary data comparisons among large-, medium- and small-sized agencies, salary data comparisons between subvented and non-subvented agencies were also included. As a result, salary data of social work positions and social service project positions have been collected in more detail with the comparison on subvented and non-subvented posts. The enhancement has provided a clearer picture of the salary information of the benchmarked positions.

With the contributions from the Working Group Members and the professional service rendered by the survey consultant, the Survey has been accomplished with satisfactory results. This year, there were 122 Members joining the Survey.

Introduction - NGOs Benefit Survey Report

HKCSS has conducted the annual NGOs Salary Survey (hereafter the "Survey") for the social service sector since 2003. As a part of the Survey, the survey on benefits is conducted to provide relevant information regarding benefits offered by NGOs.

The survey on benefits is conducted biennially since 2012. Since the survey on benefits is an independent subject of interest to NGOs, the result is published as a separate report starting from 2016.This is to facilitate easier access and references to the result of the survey on benefits independently. The survey on benefits includes major topics such as leave, medical care, employer’s voluntary contributions made to Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme and other benefits (e.g., life insurance, seminar and conference subsidy, self-initiated education subsidy, etc.). It mainly covers full-time staff disregarding their salary scales follow MPS or not. But for medical benefit, it looks into the provision for full-time staff and part-time staff.

Objective and Scope of the Survey

The objective of the Survey is to provide the most updated reference in the following areas:

• A summary of salary data on a set of benchmarked positions in different job families;
• Comparisons of salary levels in past years for each type of job positions;
• Comparisons of salary levels amongst large-, medium- and small-sized agencies, and subvented and non-subvented agencies;
• The average percentage of overall salary adjustment awarded to eligible staff in NGOs;
• Staff turnover data on a set of benchmarked positions in different job families;
• A summary of findings of human resources management practices amongst the NGOs.

Survey Methodology

The following methodology is deployed in the Survey.

1. Design of the Survey

The questionnaire and job descriptions for benchmarked positions are developed to:

• ensure adequate representations and fair interpretations of findings;
• collect empirical data and views from the Participants on their current practices in salary and benefit management; and
• identify the differences in salary and benefit management practices due to the heterogeneity of Members.

To facilitate the Participants to complete the questionnaire, the HKCSS answered enquiries on general and administration issues. Stat Solutions Co, as the survey consultant, was responsible for answering technical questions, conducting data analysis as well as the maintenance of all data provided by the Participants in total confidentiality throughout the entire process.

2. Data Collection

All Agency Members (488 Members as of 31 August 2019) of the HKCSS were invited to participate in this Survey. A total of 122 Members returned the questionnaires to Stat Solutions Co. directly.

3. Data Analysis and Report

Data was entered into an electronic file for tabulations and analysed by Stat Solutions Co. in a professional and strictly confidential manner. Necessary clarifications were made by Stat Solutions Co. to resolve potential data distortion to ensure completeness, accuracy, reliability and validity of the Survey. Only salary data with THREE OR ABOVE responses will be presented in the report.

Some percentages in the figures may not add up to a total of 100% because of decimal point rounding.

Profile of Participants

A total of 122 Agency Members (Respondents) participated in the Survey this year, covering 43,824 full-time staff, which accounted for about 65.7% of the staff of Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) Members covered in the HKCSS membership database.

Analysis of Pay Management Practice

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