Singapore prime minister to receive S$1.4 million pay increase and will donate the raise
The government says higher salaries help attract talent and prevent corruption; Wong plans to donate his raise over five years.
The Government of Singapore has announced a rise in the annual salaries of its ministers and other officeholders, including the prime minister, who is already described as the highest-paid political leader in the world.
Lawrence Wong will receive an increase of S$1.4 million (US$1.1 million). He said he will donate the additional pay to charitable causes over the next five years.
Reasoning and government position
Wong defended the pay adjustment as necessary to attract better talent into public service. The government has previously argued that comparatively high remuneration for top officials helps deter corruption by reducing financial incentives to misuse office.
The raise applies to a range of senior posts; the government framed it as part of a broader effort to ensure the public sector can compete with private-sector salaries when recruiting for key positions.
Officials said the move aims to balance merit-based recruitment with public accountability, while Wong’s pledge to channel his increase to charity was positioned as a response to expected public scrutiny.
Photo: Гети)
