Highest paid world leader to get salary increase of $1 million
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is set to receive a significant salary increase, maintaining his position as the world's highest-paid political leader. Wong plans to donate the raise to charity while defending the high pay as necessary to attract top talent to government.
Why it matters
The move highlights the tension between competitive public sector compensation and public concerns regarding the cost of living and income inequality.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lawrence Wong said the pay raise was necessary to attract talent
Singapore's government says it will raise the annual salaries of its ministers and other office holders, including its prime minister who is the highest paid political leader in the world.
Lawrence Wong will see an increase of 1.4 million Singapore dollars ($1.1m; £818,000) in his annual pay package. He has said he will donate this pay increase to charity over the next five years.
Wong said that raising the pay of ministers was necessary to attract better talent. The government has previously argued that paying ministers high salaries deters corruption.
But the move has attracted criticism in Singapore where there is deep concern about job security and the rising cost of living.
Even before his pay raise kicks in, Wong is still by far the highest paid political leader in the world.
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