Key facts
- Singapore's government is increasing the annual salaries of ministers and other office holders.
- Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's annual salary will increase by S$1.4 million ($1.1 million) to S$3.6 million.
- Wong has pledged to donate the entire increase to charity over the next five years.
- The government justifies the raises by stating they attract top talent and ensure good governance.
- The decision has drawn criticism due to Singapore's cost of living and job security concerns.
Singapore's government has announced a significant increase in the annual salaries of its ministers and other political office holders, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is already the world's highest-paid political leader. Wong's annual pay package will rise by S$1.4 million (approximately $1.1 million) to S$3.6 million. He has stated that he will donate this increase to charity over the next five years.
Wong explained that the salary hike is a necessary measure to attract top talent to public service, arguing that while the government cannot match private sector earnings, it aims to reduce the financial barrier for professionals considering a move into politics. The government has long contended that high ministerial salaries help deter corruption, citing Singapore's consistently high ranking on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.
However, the decision has sparked criticism among the public, with many expressing concern over job security and the rising cost of living. Online comments have described the move as 'tone deaf,' particularly in light of recent retrenchments and concerns about employment for new graduates. The median monthly income in Singapore is S$5,775, a stark contrast to the proposed ministerial salaries.
This issue of high ministerial pay has been a recurring point of contention for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP). In 2011, public dissatisfaction over ministerial salaries contributed to the party's lowest vote share in decades, leading to a salary reduction the following year. Wong's predecessor, Lee Hsien Loong, also pledged to donate his salary increases to charity in 2007. The government maintains that the pay structure, which includes performance-based targets linked to economic growth and unemployment rates, is effective in ensuring good governance.