Full Breakdown
Singapore Moves to Raise Political Salaries After Decade-Long Freeze
9/9/2026, 4:41:08 AM
Core Announcement
On September 8, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a one-off adjustment of up to 9 percent for political office holders, to begin on October 15. “We will not move immediately to the new salary benchmarks. Instead, we will make a one-off adjustment now of up to 9 per cent for political office holders,” — Mr Wong, prime minister
Background and Review Process
Ministerial salaries have not been revised since 2012, despite a 2017 call for an upward review. An independent review committee was appointed in December 2025, chaired by Gan Seow Kee, a member of the Council of Presidential Advisers. The committee submitted its recommendations in April, and the government has now accepted them while opting not to adopt the full benchmark salary of S$1.8 million immediately.
Financial Impact
- The reference salary for an MR4 minister is S$1.1 million; a 9 percent increase would raise it to about S$1.2 million.
- The benchmark salary for the same grade is S$1.8 million, but no further special adjustments will be made to close that gap.
- Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said the adjustments will cost the government roughly S$5 million more per year for political appointments and S$6.6 million more annually for Members of Parliament.
Official Rationale
Wong emphasized that “restraint cannot become neglect” and that the salary framework must retain its meaning. “This is not just a matter of pay,” — PM Wong, prime minister He added that the increase will be applied “up to” because each office holder’s adjustment will depend on individual circumstances, including performance and the timing of the last salary change. “I say ‘up to’ because the same increase will not automatically apply to everyone. The adjustment for each officeholder will depend on individual circumstances, including performance and when his or her salary was last adjusted.” — Mr Wong, prime minister
What’s Next
The approved salary adjustments will take effect on October 15. Subsequent changes to political salaries will be linked to individual performance and responsibilities, rather than a uniform benchmark increase.
