Private to Public sector: Salary

Yes.

What would be illegal about it?

some managers can get around it. I was hired at top of scale a few years ago as new entrant. They have to go through a process though.

Plus, on top of the salary scales, there's a system of allowances that can be paid to people who have, e.g., particular qualifications or specialist training. To what extent this might be relevant in relation to this (or any other) position depends on the position and how advantageous it might be for the occupant to have extra qualifications or training. (As in, they won't pay you an additional allowance for being over-qualified for the position you hold.)

I'm pretty sure his point is why should external candidates not get the same remuneration as internal candidates. It is discriminatory.

I appreciate that but it makes no sense to me (if I set aside the fact it's the PS) to overpay an internal candidate and having to backfill their previous role. And it's still discriminatory to external candidates - equal pay for the same work and all that.

What your describing is the private sector.

What your asking is to have both the mobility of the private sector with the security of public sector.

The trade for that security is the (length) tenure of service that is required.

I didn't say it was unlawful, it's discriminatory nonetheless.

It is not discriminatory because working in the private sector is not one of the 'nine grounds'.

Sounds like you're looking at roles far below your level for some reason.

It would be more logical to move into a role with salary at minimum that gas parity with your current salary.

Over qualified candidates are unlikely to stay in role thats much lower than what they are coming from.

Personally I don't consider it trivial and do consider objectionable. It doesn't sit easy with me that equally qualified and suitable candidates are paid different rates of pay depending on whether they come from the public or private sector. I think that is quite different from the normal hiring processes and weeding through candidates. But then a lot about the public sector is objectionable

They can indeed and DO get around that. The only other thing to take on board is that you will have many more deductions to your nett pay because you'll be working in the PS. Pension and pension levy being two. Salaries also can change frequently enough based on what's going on in the economy in general. The higher end of the scale you're looking at was around 84k four years ago. It happens slowly, but it can go up and down as I mentioned before. Not as simple as private sector where it's more based on your performance and general health of the company.

Nothing stopping anyone providing the same services privately and undercutting the public services. They they won't is what's mediocre.