Parliament has approved salary increases for Singapore’s President, Speaker of Parliament and Deputy Speakers, with the changes taking effect from 15 October 2026.
The motions were moved on Tuesday, 6 October, by Leader of the House Indranee Rajah. According to CNA, the three motions were approved unanimously and without debate.
The Speaker of Parliament’s annual salary will rise from S$550,000 to S$900,000, assuming an annual variable component of one month. Deputy Speakers will receive S$135,000 a year.
Salaries Pegged to Updated Political Pay Framework
The latest changes follow the Government’s acceptance of recommendations from an independent committee that reviewed Singapore’s political salary framework in 2026.
Under the updated framework, the reference annual salary for an entry-level minister, known as the MR4 grade, has been updated from S$1.1 million to S$1.8 million.
The Speaker’s salary remains pegged at 50% of the MR4 reference annual salary. As the MR4 reference has gone up, the Speaker’s package will also rise.
The Deputy Speakers’ annual package remains pegged at 15% of the Speaker’s salary.
This means the Speaker’s annual salary will be S$900,000, while each Deputy Speaker will receive S$135,000.
President’s Salary Also Going Up
The President’s pay is also being adjusted in line with the updated framework.
According to the Public Service Division, the President’s annual salary will be S$2.52 million from 15 October 2026, assuming an annual variable component of one month.
Separately, Parliament also approved changes to the Civil List, which covers expenditure for the President’s Office.
The Straits Times and The Business Times reported that the privy purse for the President will rise from S$1,568,900 to S$2,568,200. This covers the President’s salary and medical benefits.
In March 2026, Parliament had already approved an additional allocation to the Civil List, including an increase in the salaries of the President’s personal staff from S$6,696,700 to S$7,318,000.
Broader Political Pay Changes Were Debated Earlier
The changes approved on 6 October are part of a wider update to political salaries.
On 8 September 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in Parliament that the Government had accepted the recommendations of the independent review committee.
The revised framework will take effect from 15 October 2026. MPs’ monthly allowances will also rise from S$13,750 to S$18,500 from that date.
PM Wong said then that the salary framework itself was not new and had been debated in 2012. He also said the Government was setting out its response together with the committee report so that Singaporeans could see both at the same time.
Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said on 8 September that salaries for the President, Speaker and Deputy Speakers would be fully adjusted according to their pegs to the updated MR4 reference salary from 15 October.
Government Says Pegs Remain Unchanged
The Government has said the approach for these statutory appointment holders remains the same.
The President’s salary continues to be pegged to the Prime Minister’s monthly salary. The Speaker’s salary continues to be pegged at 50% of the MR4 reference annual salary. The Deputy Speaker’s package remains 15% of the Speaker’s salary.
However, the review committee also recommended studying whether the pay structure for the Speaker and Deputy Speakers should be reviewed further, taking into account how their roles may have evolved.
The Government said it would study that recommendation.
