Civil Service Bonus 2008, and pay cut for ministers

Civil servants will receive a total bonus of 2 months this year, inclusive of the 13th month bonus. This is 1 month less than last year's bonus.

As they have already received half a month's bonus at mid-year, they will receive the 13th month annual wage supplement (AWS) and a further half month's bonus at year end. That is, 1.5 months at year end.

Due to the economic downturn, the salaries of administrative officers (the highest earners in the civil service), political, judicial and statutory appointment holders will not be adjusted upwards as planned. Instead, they will all receive a pay cut of 11% to 19%.

These are the new salaries:

- President $3.14m (down 19%)
- Prime Minister $3.04m (down 19%)
- Ministerial Grade MR4 $1.57m (down 18%)
- Entry Superscale Grade SR9 $353,000 (down 12%)
- Allowance for Members of Parliament $190,000 (down 16%). Note that most MPs hold a full-time job and some are also directors in companies.

See their salaries before this adjustment.

Source: PSD press release.

http://www.salary.sg/2008/civil-serv...for-ministers/

I've been in Singapore for almost a decade now, and for the love of god I still can't figure out what exactly are the duties and responsibilities of our dear President that justifies a higher pay than the Prime Minister.

Is it simply based on protocol, since technically the "head of state" outranks the PM, and thus must be paid more?

Can anyone explain this to me?

Heart-burning question for me as well. Anyone?

he does have some powers. fiscal, corruption investigatory, appointing powers etc.

in short, same rationale. he cannot be an inept or corrupt guy.

his wife not working, and his wife is working.. so, be happy.

Well he works weekdays and weekends and public hols and is responsible as a last line of control over singapore's hardearned money and is a diplomat who has to look at ungrateful citizens more often than his own grandchildren. I think the president deserves his cash: )

Despite the pay reduction, Singapore President is still earning 5 time the US president annual pay. Amazing!

Though the top brass gets paid well, the bulk of the civil service officers are paid below market.

A fresh grad with a good engg degree from a reputed foreign uni could join a bank and make 4k+ in base salary alone, whereas here she would make substantially less.

in this time of financial trouble, the govt should increase salaries of its youngest officers who can then more confidently manage the newly launched recession-fighting programs.

how can we do that ?? it is because of the top brains at the top & not bottom that we have singapore today

who do you think does the actual work - of formulating national plans, selecting vendors and running programs? The top brass in many agencies consists of retired folk from the armed services or the like who are appointed for 2-3 years.

The govt ought to launch new spending programs to kick start the economy. To manage these programs, it needs to adequately staff the civil service - in the process creating more jobs. I'm just saying make these jobs good paying ones.

Now is the time to be visionary and attract talent - both local and foreign and put them to work for the good of the country.