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Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to receive salary increase
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced a significant revision to the salaries of political office holders, marking the first major adjustment in 15 years. Under the new framework, the Prime Minister’s annual benchmark salary will increase from S$2.2 million to S$3.6 million. Cabinet ministers will see their annual pay rise from a benchmark of S$1.1 million to approximately S$1.2 million, with the potential to reach S$1.8 million based on seniority and performance.
The government justifies the increase as a necessary measure to attract and retain high-caliber talent from the private sector and civil service, while also serving as a deterrent against corruption. To address public sensitivity regarding the gap between political salaries and the median citizen income, Wong pledged to donate the entirety of his salary increase to charity for the next five years.
The implementation will be phased, starting with a one-off adjustment of up to 9% for existing office holders on October 15. Future adjustments will be linked to performance indicators such as GDP growth, income levels, and unemployment rates. While the government maintains that competitive pay ensures quality leadership, the decision has drawn criticism from citizens concerned about the rising cost of living.
Entities
Chan Chun Sing · Gan Seow Kee · Lawrence Wong · Parliament of Singapore · People's Action Party · Singapore · Singapore Parliament · Singapore government