Singapore ministers, among world’s highest paid government officials, get first raise in 15 years
The government says higher salaries will help attract talent and keep pay competitive, while current officeholders get only a one-time adjustment of up to 9%.
- On Tuesday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced Singapore accepted independent committee recommendations to raise political salaries, setting the MR4 entry-level minister benchmark to S$1.8 million and his own benchmark to S$3.6 million.
- The government argues competitive pay attracts top private-sector talent and deters corruption, noting ministerial salaries have remained unchanged for 15 years since 2011.
- Starting October 15, Members of Parliament will receive monthly allowances of S$18,500, up from S$13,750, while political officeholders get a one-off adjustment of up to 9% based on performance.
- Critics online labeled the adjustment "tone deaf" amid concerns over inflation and job security, though Wong pledged to donate his full salary increase to charity for five years.
- Parliament will debate the increases on Thursday, while Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing announced plans to study delinking future MP allowances from the MR4 benchmark.
155 Articles
155 Articles
A prime minister will receive a salary increase of about $1.1 million a year, and his annual income will reach about $2.8 million. Authorities say that high wages are needed to attract well-trained professionals in politics.
The annual salary of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the world's highest-paid national leader, has risen by 1.5 billion won (64%) to reach 3.8 billion won. According to reports by the UK's Financial Times (FT) and Singaporean media outlet Channel News Asia (CNA) on the 8th (local time), the Singapore government, including Prime Minister Wong,
In addition, the 16 heads of ministerial portfolios – among the best paid in the world – will have an increase of 9% in their income, which will remain at a minimum of $947,269 per year for the lowest categories Read
What is his salary difference from the rest of the world? - He will remain the highest-paid elected leader in the world, after the adjustment of political salaries that remained "frozen" for 15 years
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is considered top earner among the heads of government with a basic salary of around 1.5 million euros per year – now there is another increase. Wong defends the measure.
The world’s best-paid politician is getting a $1 million pay rise
By John Liu, CNN (CNN) — Singapore’s ministers are already among the world’s highest-paid politicians, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong earning more than four times US President Donald Trump’s annual government salary. Now, Wong has been given a $1 million pay bump, with the wealthy city-state giving a big boost to ministers’ salaries for the
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