Singapore's political salary framework must stay updated while preserving the ethos of service: Chan Chun Sing

Mr Chan said Singapore is not trying to match private sector salaries, but cannot pretend that such opportunity costs do not exist.

Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing delivers a ministerial statement in parliament on the review of salaries for political appointment holders and Members of Parliament on Sep 8, 2026.

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: Singapore must keep its political salary framework updated to strike a balance between preserving the ethos of political service and widening the pool of citizens who can realistically consider serving, said Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Sep 8).

By ensuring the framework stays updated, capable and committed people from different backgrounds and at different stages of life can step forward to serve, not just those who are financially independent or have made exceptional lifestyle choices, he said.

“We want to be able to say to capable Singaporeans, ‘Singapore needs you, and while political service involves sacrifices, it will not come at an unreasonable cost to you and your family’,” Mr Chan said in parliament.

He was giving the government’s response to the 2026 Review Committee’s report, which covered the review of salaries for political appointment holders and Members of Parliament.

Mr Chan spoke after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Tuesday that Singapore's incumbent political appointment holders will receive a salary increase of up to 9 per cent.

The review was fundamentally about giving Singapore a better chance to build a “first-rate team”, said Mr Chan, who is also Minister for Defence.

Younger Singaporeans may be building careers, raising families and taking on major financial commitments in their 30s and 40s.

The government wants such people to be able to enter public office in their prime so that they have the energy and runway to build up experience and trust with Singaporeans.

At the same time, those who are more established in their careers can be earning millions of dollars a year.

“We are not trying to match that, nor should we,” said Mr Chan. “But we cannot pretend that such opportunity costs do not exist.”

He then said the government understands that it will never be able to match the pay of all the people it hopes to recruit, and that no matter how much political office holders are paid, some people will never choose to join.

On the other hand, money cannot be the primary motivation for anyone who enters political service, he said. “If money is your main reason for wanting to be a minister, frankly, you are not the person we are looking for.”

Hence, there should be a balance that allows more Singaporeans to consider serving, without affecting the ethos of political service, he said.

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CONTRIBUTIONS “GO WELL BEYOND PAY”

Mr Chan acknowledged that the topic of political salaries is difficult to discuss “even in the best of times”.

Singaporeans have diverse concerns and expect the government to deal with the issues correctly.

That is why the government needs to ensure that capable Singaporeans are not deterred from stepping forward to address them, he said.

“Even as we do so, we know that the contributions of political appointment holders and MPs go well beyond pay,” he said.

“The opportunity costs and demands of public life away from families and loved ones are not something we take lightly. We cannot remove these sacrifices, but we can make the choice less prohibitive,” said Mr Chan.

He added that governing well means making clear-headed decisions for Singapore’s long-term interests. These may be uncomfortable today, but necessary for tomorrow.

Political leadership means being upfront about the challenges and options, he said, adding that the principles and framework have not changed.

“What we are doing is to update the salaries within that framework after a 15-year gap, so that they may remain relevant and disciplined.”

The review is less about the individuals of today who have already stepped forward to serve, he said.

Instead, it is more about upholding a system that gives a better chance for the next generation of capable and committed Singaporeans to step forward “so that Singapore’s best days remain ahead of us”.

“This is how we do right by Singapore,” said Mr Chan.

SALARIES FROZEN FOR 15 YEARS

Mr Chan noted that the current salary framework was established in 2012, and implemented retrospectively from May 2011.

Political reference salaries have not been updated since then, with the government deciding not to proceed with adjustments in 2017 because of prevailing economic circumstances.

The government also deferred a review in 2023.

“The result is that the structure of political salaries has been frozen for the past 15 years,” said Mr Chan.

He said the framework risks losing its relevance if Singapore continues to hold off on updating it.

“More importantly, we continue to weaken our ability to build a strong, diverse team of leaders that Singapore needs,” he said.

The committee to review political salaries was convened last December by Mr Wong, and included members from the private sector.

Mr Chan on Tuesday thanked the committee for their work. “This was not an easy task. The committee approached it with seriousness, care and rigour.”

He also thanked MPs past and present, from all sides of the House, who have stepped forward to serve.

“Singapore is better for it,” he said.

People considering political service also think about whether the team is worth serving with, he added.

“That is a responsibility that falls on all of us, to inspire through our actions and sense of duty.”

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陈先生表示，新加坡并非试图与私营部门的薪资水平持平，但也不能假装这种机会成本不存在。

2026年9月8日，公共服务统筹部长陈振声在国会发表部长声明，讨论检讨政治委任官员和国会议员的薪酬。

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：公共服务统筹部长陈振声周二（9月8日）表示，新加坡必须不断更新其政治薪酬框架，以在维护政治服务精神和扩大能够切实考虑担任公职的公民范围之间取得平衡。

他表示，通过确保框架不断更新，来自不同背景、处于不同人生阶段的有能力且有奉献精神的人都可以站出来服务，而不仅仅是那些经济独立或生活方式与众不同的人。

陈先生在国会表示：“我们希望能够对有能力的的新加坡人说，‘新加坡需要你们，虽然从政需要做出牺牲，但这不会给你们和你们的家庭带来过高的代价’。”

他代表政府回应了 2026 年审查委员会的报告，该报告涵盖了对政治任命官员和国会议员薪酬的审查。

陈先生是在总理黄循财周二宣布新加坡现任政治任命官员将获得最高 9% 的加薪之后发表上述讲话的。

陈先生（同时也是国防部长）表示，此次审查的根本目的是为了让新加坡有更好的机会打造一支“一流团队”。

新加坡的年轻人可能在 30 多岁和 40 多岁时正在建立事业、组建家庭并承担重大的经济责任。

政府希望这类人才能在正值壮年时进入公职，以便他们有足够的精力和时间积累经验，赢得新加坡人民的信任。

与此同时，那些事业发展较为成熟的人每年可以赚到数百万美元。

陈先生说：“我们并非试图与之匹敌，也不应该这样做。但我们不能假装这种机会成本不存在。”

他接着说，政府明白它永远无法支付所有希望招募的人的薪水，而且无论政治官员的薪水有多高，总会有人选择不加入。

另一方面，他表示，金钱不应是任何人投身政界的首要动机。“如果你想当部长的主要原因是金钱，坦白说，你不是我们要找的人。”

因此，他表示，应该找到一种平衡，既能让更多新加坡人考虑参政，又不影响政治服务的精神。

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贡献“远远超出报酬”

陈先生承认，即使在最好的情况下，政治薪酬的话题也很难讨论。

新加坡民众关心的问题多种多样，他们希望政府能够妥善处理这些问题。

他说，正因如此，政府需要确保有能力的的新加坡人不会因为害怕而不敢挺身而出解决这些问题。

“即便如此，我们也知道政治任命官员和议员的贡献远远不止于薪酬，”他说。

陈先生表示：“我们非常重视远离家庭和爱人、投身公共生活所带来的机会成本和压力。我们无法消除这些牺牲，但我们可以让这种选择变得不那么难以接受。”

他补充说，良好的治理意味着为新加坡的长远利益做出清醒的决策。这些决策或许在当下令人不适，但对未来至关重要。

他表示，政治领导力意味着要坦诚面对挑战和选择，并补充说，原则和框架没有改变。

“我们正在做的是在时隔 15 年后，对该框架内的薪资进行更新，以使其保持合理性和规范性。”

他说，这次审查与其说是针对今天已经挺身而出服务于人民的个人，不如说是针对那些已经站出来服务于人民的个人。

相反，这更多的是为了维护一个能够让下一代有能力、有担当的新加坡人有更好机会站出来“让新加坡最美好的日子还在前方”的制度。

陈先生说：“这才是我们善待新加坡的方式。”

工资冻结15年

陈先生指出，目前的薪酬体系是在2012年制定的，并追溯至2011年5月开始实施。

此后政治参考薪资一直没有更新，政府决定由于当时的经济形势，在 2017 年不进行调整。

政府还将审查推迟到 2023 年。

陈先生说：“结果是，政治人物的薪酬结构在过去15年里一直处于冻结状态。”

他表示，如果新加坡继续拖延更新该框架，该框架可能会失去其相关性。

“更重要的是，我们正在不断削弱我们建立新加坡所需要的强大、多元化的领导团队的能力，”他说。

审查政治薪酬委员会由黄之锋先生于去年12月召集，成员包括私营部门人士。

陈先生周二感谢委员会的工作。“这并非易事。委员会以认真、谨慎和严谨的态度对待这项工作。”

他还感谢了来自议会各党派的现任和前任议员们挺身而出为人民服务。

“这对新加坡更有利，”他说。

他还补充说，考虑从政的人也会考虑这个团队是否值得加入。

“激励他人是我们每个人的责任，我们要用行动和责任感去激励他人。”

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