公務員給与上げ 世代や地域でメリハリが要る

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Civil servant salaries should vary based on location, workers’ age
公務員給与上げ　世代や地域でメリハリが要る

The economic recovery has finally reached the salaries of national public servants. Looking ahead, it will be important to allocate salaries flexibly, taking a worker’s age and location into consideration.
　景気回復が官の給与にも及んだ。今後は世代や地域に応じて、メリハリのある配分を追求することが大切だ。

The National Personnel Authority has recommended to the Cabinet and the Diet that the average monthly salary for national public servants doing regular work in fiscal 2014 be increased by 0.27 percent from fiscal 2013, and their annual bonuses by an equivalent of 0.15 month’s salary. This is the first recommendation for a pay raise in seven years.
　人事院が２０１４年度の国家公務員一般職の給与について、月給を平均０・２７％、ボーナスを０・１５か月分、引き上げるよう内閣と国会に勧告した。７年ぶりのプラス勧告だ。

In fiscal 2012 and 2013, the salaries of national civil servants were reduced by an average of 7.8 percent, with funds saved by the cuts diverted to finance reconstruction of areas hit hard by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. These salaries returned to their original level in April this year. If the pay increase is implemented as recommended, the average annual pay among national government workers would rise by ¥79,000 from the current level to ¥6.618 million.
　国家公務員給与は１２、１３年度、東日本大震災の復興財源に充てるため、平均７・８％減額されていたが、今年４月に元の水準に戻った。勧告通り実施されれば、平均年収は今より７万９０００円増の６６１万８０００円となる。

Civil servant salaries are basically kept in line with those offered in the private sector. The NPA’s latest recommendation is linked to the recent string of wage increases being offered by private companies. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga indicated his support for the proposed pay increase. “It reflects rising salaries in the private sector due to Abenomics,” he said.
　国家公務員給与は民間準拠が基本だ。今回の勧告は、民間企業の賃上げに連動したものである。菅官房長官も「アベノミクスによる民間給与の上昇を反映した内容」と評価している。

In its recommendation, the NPA called for a ¥2,000 raise across the board in the basic salary of civil servants who were new graduates from high school or university. In contrast to a more handsome share being distributed to younger workers, the NPA left the basic salaries of workers aged 55 and older unchanged.
　勧告は、高校・大学の新卒者の基本給を一律２０００円引き上げるなど、若年層への配分を手厚くする一方で、５５歳以上の基本給は据え置いている。

The salaries of civil servants in their 20s are lower than those of their counterparts in the private sector. However, their pay steadily increases, and by the time they are 55 or older, they earn more than average private-sector workers. Given the need to attract and retain talented young and midcareer workers, we can understand the need to give them extra financial consideration.
　国家公務員の給与は、２０代では民間水準を下回るが、徐々に上昇し、５５歳以上では上回る。優秀な人材を確保するため、若手・中堅に配慮するのは理解できる。

Keep personnel costs in check

The bonus increase will come in the form of an allowance for industriousness based on a worker’s ability and performance. The more talented the worker, the higher the bonus they receive. We think expanding the performance-based bonus system, just as the private sector has done, is fair.
　ボーナスの引き上げ分は、能力・実績に応じた勤勉手当に充て、優秀な職員により多く配分する。民間と同様に、成果主義を拡大していく方向性は妥当だろう。

The NPA also called for a comprehensive review of the civil servant salary system over three years from fiscal 2015. In regions where private sector salaries are low, the basic salary of civil servants will be cut by an average of 2 percent overall in fiscal 2015 and beyond, with the reduction reaching a maximum of 4 percent for personnel 55 and older. This is to eliminate pay disparities between the private and public sectors in these regions.
　勧告は、給与制度の総合的見直しを１５年度から３年間かけて行うことも求めた。民間給与水準が低い地方での官民格差を是正するため、基本給の水準を１５年度以降、全体で平均２％、５５歳以上は最大４％下げる内容だ。

Funds saved by these pay cuts will be used to boost regional allowances and bump up the salaries of civil servants in cities and areas where prices and private-sector wages are high. Allowances for workers who have to transfer far away or work away from their families will be expanded.
　引き下げ分を原資に、勤務地に応じた地域手当を増やし、物価や民間給与が高い都市部の職員の待遇を改善する。広域異動手当や単身赴任手当などは拡充する。

It is only natural that allowances be increased or cut depending on the environment and conditions in the region where one works. We think the government should steadily forge ahead on this matter.
　働く地域や環境の実情に応じて手当を増減するのは当然である。着実に進めたい。

According to a Finance Ministry calculation, fully implementing the recommended pay hikes would increase costs for national public servants by about ¥82 billion for this fiscal year.
　財務省の試算によると、今年度の人勧を完全実施すれば、国の人件費は約８２０億円増える。

Given the nation’s current severe fiscal situation, the government must try to keep total personnel expenses down and move ahead with reviews of the salary system, staffing levels and organization of the government.
　厳しい財政事情の下、政府は、給与制度とともに、機構・定員の見直しを進め、総人件費の抑制に努めなければならない。

If the salaries of local government employees nationwide are raised in line with those of national civil servants, the total costs are forecast to swell by about ¥220 billion. It is not uncommon for local government employees to earn more than private-sector workers in areas where private salaries are low. Close attention needs to be given to this point when considering any revisions of the salary system for civil servants.
　地方公務員の給与は、仮に国に準じて改定した場合、約２２００億円の増加が見込まれる。民間給与が低い地域では、地方公務員の給与が民間を上回る例も少なくない。給与改定には、こうした点への目配りも必要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9, 2014)