Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing will set out the Government’s response to Singapore’s latest political salary review when Parliament sits on Tuesday, 8 September.
Both ministers will deliver ministerial statements on the recommendations made by an independent committee that reviewed the salaries of political appointment holders and MPs. Parliament will then debate the matter on Thursday, 10 September.
The debate will take place under Standing Order 44. Under this procedure, amendments cannot be made to the motion and it will not be put to a vote.
Independent Committee Completed Its Review in April
The Government convened an independent committee in January 2026 to review the political salary framework.
The committee is chaired by Gan Seow Kee, chairman of Singapore LNG Corporation and an alternate member of the Council of Presidential Advisers. Its seven other members come from the Public Service Commission, labour movement, business, charity and academic sectors.
It was tasked with recommending appropriate salary levels under the existing framework and proposing refinements where necessary to keep the system relevant.
The committee completed its review and submitted its recommendations to the Government in April.
However, in May, Mr Chan said the Government had decided to hold off considering the recommendations because the ongoing Middle East conflict was creating significant economic uncertainty and clouding Singapore’s outlook.
At the time, he said the committee’s report and the Government’s response would be released together at an appropriate point so MPs could consider both before debating the issue.
That point has now arrived.
Political Salaries Have Not Been Adjusted Since 2011
Singapore’s current political salary framework dates back to the review carried out after the 2011 General Election, with the revised salaries taking effect from 21 May 2011.
The framework was set out in a 2012 White Paper and covers the President, Prime Minister, political appointment holders, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers of Parliament, MPs, Non-Constituency MPs and Nominated MPs.
Political salaries have not been adjusted since then.
Under the existing structure, the reference annual salary package for an MR4 minister is S$1.1 million, while the Prime Minister’s annual package is S$2.2 million. The ministerial framework includes both fixed and variable components tied to individual performance and national outcomes.
The framework was reviewed again in 2017. That committee concluded that the structure remained sound and recommended adjusting political salaries to reflect updated benchmark levels, but the Government ultimately decided not to change salaries.
Another review was due in 2023, but it was postponed because of geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The Government finally formed the current review committee in January 2026.
The details of the Government’s response will therefore be closely watched when PM Wong and Mr Chan address Parliament on 8 September.
