Singapore ministers, among world’s highest paid government officials, get first raise in 15 years
- On Tuesday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in Parliament that Singapore will raise the MR4 entry-level minister salary benchmark from $1.1 million to $1.8 million, with political office-holders receiving a one-off adjustment of up to 9 percent starting October 15.
- Singapore last adjusted ministerial salaries 15 years ago, and Wong stated the revision aims to attract top talent and maintain high-quality leadership as existing pay had fallen behind private sector and civil service earnings.
- Monthly allowances for Members of Parliament will increase to $18,500 from $13,750 to account for inflation, while Wong committed to donating his full annual salary increment of $1.4 million to "suitable good causes" for the next five years.
- The announcement drew criticism from some online as "tone deaf," given current concerns regarding retrenchments, job security, and the rising cost of living, though the government defends the system as essential for clean governance.
- Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing noted the government will study "delinking" allowances for community-related roles from ministerial benchmarks, as the current framework uses the median income of Singapore's top 1,000 earners to guide salary levels.
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Singapore ministers, among world’s highest paid government officials, get first raise in 15 years - The Tribune
Singapore’s ministers, already among the world’s highest paid, are getting a raise for the first time in 15 years, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, explaining the government cannot attract top talent into politics if salaries remain unchanged. Wong told parliament on Tuesday that under a revised salary framework, the benchmark annual pay for a minister […]
Singapore raises ministers' pay after 15 years to attract political talent
Singapore has approved its first rise in ministers' pay in 15 years after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed Parliament. He said the move is needed to attract capable leaders, even as political salaries remain a sensitive public issue.
True, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, promised that he would benefit from it.
Singapore ministers to receive first pay rise in 15 years
Singapore: Singapore's ministers, who are among the world's highest-paid government officials, will receive their first salary increase in 15 years under a revised remuneration framework announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Wong said the benchmark annual salary for a minister at the lowest grade will increase from S$1.1 million (US$868,330) to S$1.8 million (US$1.42 million).The benchmark salary for the pri…
The decision sparked fierce criticism.
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