Ministerial salary review expected to be completed by year end

The ministerial salary review committee said it expects to complete its review by the end of the year.

The committee was formed in May to review the basis and level of salaries of the President, Prime Minister, political appointment holders and Members of Parliament (MPs) to help ensure a honest and competent government.

In a statement published on the committee's website, committee chairman Gerard Ee said the team received more than 500 suggestions through emails and letters at the close of public feedback on 20 June.

"We are carefully looking through all the inputs, including views and proposals, some of which were very detailed," he said, thanking the public for their contributions.

He said the committee will consider all the ideas and suggestions for "their suitability and appropriateness". The committee is assisted by a HR consultant firm, Mercer (Singapore).

"We are getting comments from both retired and current politicians," said Ee, who is also the chairman of Changi General Hospital and Chairman of the National Kidney Foundation.

He added that the committee wants to do a thorough job and expects to complete the task before the end of the year.

The Prime Minister's current salary is estimated to be over S$3 million while ministerial-grade officers are paid more than S$1.5 million.

The government has said it will base the new salaries on the committee's recommendations. New salaries arising from this review will be backdated to 21 May 2011, when the new government took office.

As announced earlier in a statement from the Prime Minister's Office on 22 May, the revised Presidential salary will commence from the new term on 1 September. However, former President S R Nathan has said he would adopt the new salary from 21 May 2011.