Singapore's high ministerial salaries under scrutiny in parliament this week

Singapore's top ministers will address ministerial salaries in parliament on Tuesday, a topic of intense scrutiny in the city-state. Political office in Singapore is lucrative, with the highest salary in the world, drawing talent and deterring corruption. Junior ministers earn S$1.1 million annually, while the prime minister takes home S$2.2 million.

Salaries have remained unchanged since 2012, when ministers accepted a 36% pay cut to address public discontent. The high salaries are justified by the need to attract top talent and prevent graft, as graft cases among senior officials remain rare.

Despite the generous compensation, the median monthly income in Singapore is a mere S$5,775, and inflation has been persistent, with the central bank expecting it to remain high until 2027. According to PoliticalSalaries.com, the Hong Kong chief executive is the second-highest earner globally, followed by the Swiss president.

After the 2012 pay cut, further reviews were conducted in 2017 and 2023, but no significant changes were made. Lawmakers will debate the issue later in the week, and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing will present the government's response to the committee's recommendations on ministerial salaries.