Singapore’s prime minister has been given a $۱m pay rise as the affluent city-state announced a dramatic one-off salary boost for government ministers.
The pay increases add more than ۶۰% to what are already the world’s highest ministerial salaries.
Singapore has justified high-end salaries for its political leaders, arguing they attract talent and ensure good governance. The issue is nevertheless politically sensitive, with cabinet members’ income far exceeding that of most ordinary citizens.
Prime minister Lawrence Wong’s benchmark annual salary will rise from S$۲.۲m ($۱.۷m) to S$۳.۶m ($۲.۸m).
The deputy prime minister’s benchmark will lift from S$۱.۸m to S$۳m. Cabinet ministers will get between S$۱.۸m and S$۲.۸m, depending on the seniority and weight of their portfolio.
Wong said he would donate the entire increase of his salary to “suitable good causes” during his term.
Even before the raise, the Singaporean prime minister’s paycheck vastly outstripped the wages of many other leaders, including in the US and other G۷ nations. The US president earns $۴۰۰,۰۰۰ a year, while the UK prime minister is paid about $۲۳۰,۰۰۰ annually.
“Political salaries are a difficult and emotive issue,” said Wong, whose long-ruling People’s Action Party dominates Singapore’s parliament and its ۲۱-member cabinet. “The sums involved are more than what most citizens earn, so I understand why Singaporeans scrutinise them closely, and why many feel strongly about the matter.”
However, the issue is “ultimately about whether Singapore will continue to have the quality of political leadership we need to take our country forward” in the decades ahead, he said.
“Our starting point is this: good government depends on good leadership.”
The South-east Asian nation, which last adjusted ministerial salaries ۱۵ years ago, is regularly ranked among the world’s least corrupt countries.
Wong said the pay raises were recommended by an independent committee, adding that existing office holders would not be moved immediately to the new benchmarks.
They will receive a one-off adjustment of up to ۹% from ۱۵ October, depending on individual circumstances, including performance.
