The Singapore government said it will raise the annual salaries of its ministers and other officeholders, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is the highest-paid political leader in the world.
According to the BBC, Wong will see an increase of S$1.4 million Singapore dollars ($1.1 million) in his annual pay package. He has said he will donate the pay increase to charity over the next five years.
Wong said raising ministers’ salaries was necessary to attract better talent. Previously, the government had argued that paying ministers high salaries helps deter corruption. However, the move has also drawn criticism amid rising concerns over job security and the cost of living.
Wong addressed the complaints in a speech in Parliament, saying political salaries were a difficult and emotive topic.
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“The sums involved are more than what most citizens earn, so I understand why Singaporeans scrutinize them closely and why many feel strongly about the matter,” Wong said, adding that he would donate his increment to charity for the next five years.
“It is ultimately about whether Singapore will continue to have the quality of political leadership we need to take our country forward and to serve Singaporeans well in the years ahead,” Wong added.
Wong is the highest-paid political leader, according to data from the nonprofit PoliticalSalaries.com. In comparison, the British prime minister makes $230,000, while U.S. President Donald Trump earns $400,000. The data also showed that the Hong Kong chief executive is the second-highest earner globally at $719,000 annually, followed by the Swiss president at $606,000.
A Singapore junior minister, whose salary is now S$1.1 million a year, will have a new salary that can reach S$1.8 million a year, depending on performance and responsibilities. The increase will begin with a one-time adjustment of up to 9%, with subsequent adjustments based on performance, rather than an immediate jump to S$1.8 million.
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Wong said that by the end of this term of government, most junior ministers will earn about S$1.35 million, while those who perform well can “move higher.”
The last time Singapore raised ministers’ salaries was in 2012. Ministers then took a 36% pay cut amid public discontent over their compensation.
Lawmakers will debate the pay increase on Thursday. The announcement has drawn mixed responses on social media, with some users on Reddit calling the adjustment “tone deaf,” while others said the increase would be justified if ministers did a better job of navigating challenging times.