Singaporean PM’s pay to jump to S$3.6mil, will donate increase
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a salary increase for political leaders, which he intends to donate for the next five years. The government justifies these high salaries as necessary to attract top-tier talent and prevent corruption.
Why it matters
The move highlights the tension between maintaining competitive public sector compensation and addressing public sentiment regarding income inequality.
Singapore's prime minister Lawrence Wong is the the best-paid government leader in the world. (EPA Images pic)
SINGAPORE: Singapore will raise the annual salaries of its political leaders including prime minister Lawrence Wong, reviving scrutiny of a pay system that has long been politically sensitive in the city-state.
Wong, the best-paid government leader in the world, will see his yearly pay boosted to S$3.6 million (US$2.8 million) from S$2.2 million. He told lawmakers on Tuesday he will donate the increment for the next five years.
“Political salaries are a difficult and emotive issue - the sums involved are more than what most citizens earn,” Wong said in parliament. “It is ultimately about whether Singapore will continue to have the quality of political leadership we need to take our country forward.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in