Singapore ministers’ pay to stay frozen as public chides politicians’ million-dollar salaries
The government has argued the huge salaries are necessary to attract top-calibre talent and prevent the corruption that afflicts other Asian countries
Singapore government ministers were told on Thursday their salaries will stay frozen despite a recommendation for an increase, but there was little sympathy in the city state for the world’s best paid politicians.
Ministerial salaries in the financial hub are the highest on Earth, with an entry-level minister paid Sg$1.1 million (US$830,000) and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong earning an eye-watering Sg$2.2 million.
The government has argued the huge pay packets are necessary to attract top-calibre talent and prevent the corruption that afflicts other Asian countries.
But the issue has long attracted public anger, and the government responded to criticism by slashing salaries after a 2012 review.
A nine-member committee last year carried out the first review of ministers’ salaries since the reductions, and recommended an increase of nine per cent.