Commentary: Ministers can be paid more, but link their salary to performance

Singapore's debate over ministerial salaries has persisted for over three decades, despite the world and the country changing significantly. The issue resurfaces regularly, with new data points emerging to help evaluate the policy's effectiveness. The ruling party has struggled to attract capable individuals from the private sector and senior officials to enter politics, as evidenced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's unsuccessful attempts to recruit top executives and permanent secretaries.

The last 30 years have shown that no prime minister has been eager to address this problem, as it has been a contentious issue. In his recent announcement of minor salary increases for junior ministers, Wong chose a cautious approach that was less likely to provoke public opposition. He argued that the pay adjustments were intended to prevent ministers from facing significant financial sacrifices while acknowledging the drawbacks of political life.

While this approach may address some concerns, it may not significantly attract new talent to politics. The debate now calls for a more forward-thinking solution, such as linking ministerial pay to performance metrics like GDP growth, unemployment rates, and income distribution. This approach could help attract capable individuals to politics and ensure that the public and private sectors benefit from the best available talent.