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Singapore Raises Prime Minister's Salary, Widening Pay Gap
Developing
In Short: Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will receive a significant pay rise, from 2.2 million Singapore dollars to 3.6 million, starting October 15.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will receive a significant pay rise, from 2.2 million Singapore dollars to 3.6 million, starting October 15, widening the gap between his salary and that of other world leaders. The move, justified by the government as a way to attract talent and ensure good governance, comes as ministers in Singapore will see a one-off increase of as much as 9 percent starting October 5.
The pay raises add more than 60% to what are already the world’s highest ministerial salaries, with the deputy prime minister’s benchmark lifting from S$1.8m to S$3m, and cabinet ministers receiving between S$1.8m and S$2.8m, depending on their seniority and portfolio.
Wong, who became prime minister in 2024, said the pay raises were recommended by an independent committee and that existing office holders would not be moved immediately to the new benchmarks. He argued that the issue is 'ultimately about whether Singapore will continue to have the quality of political leadership we need to take our country forward' in the decades ahead.
The affluent city-state has long justified high-end salaries for its political leaders, arguing they attract talent and ensure good governance. Britain's prime minister, for instance, receives the equivalent of roughly $230,000 annually, while Canada’s Mark Carney receives a total of 435,400 Canadian dollars—or $315,000—according to the government spending tracker Ottawasted.ca.
What's confirmed
- Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will receive a significant pay rise, his government has announced, widening the distance between his salary and that of other world leaders.
What's still developing
- Since becoming an independent nation, Singapore’s government has argued that high salaries for politicians can help deter corruption.
- “Political salaries are a difficult and emotive issue,” said Wong, whose long-ruling People’s Action Party dominates Singapore’s parliament and its 21-member cabinet.
- Even before the raise, the Singaporean prime minister’s paycheck vastly outstripped the wages of many other leaders, including in the US and other G7 nations.
Sources
- Newsweeklink