Singapore PM to get $1.1m pay rise as ministers' salaries increase

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is set to receive a $1.1m increase in his annual pay package as the government raises the salaries of ministers and other senior officeholders. Wong currently receives about S$2.2m ($1.7m; £1.3m) a year, and his pay package will rise to around S$3.6m ($2.8m; £2.1m), an increase of more than 60%. Wong said the pay rise was necessary to attract talented people into politics and make it easier for senior civil servants and business leaders to leave their careers to serve in government. He said the government could not match the salaries some potential candidates earned in the private sector, but it should avoid making the financial sacrifice of entering politics unnecessarily difficult. Wong has said he will donate his entire pay increase to charity over the next five years. Singapore's government has long defended its high salaries for ministers, arguing that competitive pay helps attract capable leaders and reduces incentives for corruption. Even before the increase, Wong is considered the world's highest-paid political leader. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is next, earning about $719,000 a year, while Switzerland's President Guy Parmelin earns about $606,000. US President Donald Trump earns $400,000 annually, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham receives about $230,000. The decision has attracted criticism in Singapore, particularly at a time when many people are concerned about job security, inflation and the rising cost of living. The country's median monthly income is about S$5,775. Critics online described the pay increase as 'tone deaf', pointing to concerns about retrenchments and employment opportunities for young graduates. Government figures show that retrenchments recently reached their highest level in more than five years. However, some people have supported the increase, arguing that the government needs to attract 'the best of the best' to run the country. Under the new system, ministers' base pay will rise from about S$1.1m to around S$1.2m. Their total compensation can increase further depending on performance and whether the country meets targets including economic growth, income growth and unemployment. The issue of ministers' salaries has been controversial for years and contributed to public dissatisfaction with the ruling People's Action Party during the 2011 general election. The government subsequently reduced ministers' salaries. (BBC News)