Grassroots officials deserve raise

After the leak on the Internet on Monday that the majority of civil servants in Lengshuijiang, Hunan province, earn between 2,001 and 4,000 yuan ($330 to $660), netizens are shocked to find that the income of the supposedly high-income group is no more than that of some migrant workers, says an article in Guangming Daily. Excerpts:

The increase in the salaries of civil servants working at the grassroots or posted in remote areas has been low compared with that of people employed in other sectors. But the public, unaware of this fact, tends to believe in the stereotype that all civil servants are well paid and lead a relatively easy life.

The public should have a better understanding of the civil servants working at the grassroots. It should know that such civil servants shoulder the responsibility of public service and play a very important role in the smooth operation of the entire society. And it should realize that they deserve a healthy increase in their salaries to keep pace with overall increase in people's incomes and to ensure that they get to share the fruits of the country's fast-paced economic growth.

But at the same time, civil servants should know that getting a relatively low salary is no excuse for questioning the eight-point austerity code issued by the central authorities. The code is aimed at eliminating extravagance, reducing waste and doing away with unnecessary perks for officials, which conforms to public expectations.

Civil servants' salaries are undergoing a new round of reform. But only after changing officials' working style and way of using power can we talk about adjusting of their salaries.