Singapore ministers set for pay rise with entry-level pay up to US$1.4 million

Singapore’s ministers will see their salaries rise in a progressive manner, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announcing the changes on Tuesday. The entry-level ministerial salary benchmark will increase from S$1.1 million to S$1.8 million (US$1.4 million), while the prime minister’s benchmark salary will climb from S$2.2 million to S$3.6 million (US$1.7 million).

These increases, recommended by an independent committee, come after five years of inaction, with the last adjustments made in 2012. Wong, who will donate his salary rise to charitable causes, emphasized that the changes were in line with Singapore’s interests and aimed to attract top talent to the cabinet. The new benchmarks will be implemented on October 15, starting with a one-off increase of up to 9 percent, contingent on factors such as performance and past adjustments.

Wong stated that wages in both the public and private sectors have been rising, causing ministerial salaries to fall behind. Some permanent secretaries now earn more than ministers. The high salaries of political office holders, among the highest globally, have been a subject of public debate. Wong highlighted the need to select individuals of the right calibre for the cabinet, noting that there had been a shortage of younger ministers to succeed senior colleagues following a 2012 pay cut.