President’s salary to rise to S$2.56M, Speaker of Parliament’s salary to rise to S$900K after Parliament approves motions
On Tuesday (6 Oct), Parliament has unanimously approved increases to the salaries of the President, Speaker of Parliament and Deputy Speakers.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s annual salary will rise from S$1,568,900 to S$2,568,200.
Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng’s annual salary will increase from S$550,000 to S$900,000.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
Deputy Speakers Christopher de Souza and Xie Yao Quan will each receive S$135,000 annually.
This is in addition to their allowances as Members of Parliament.
The changes follow recommendations from an independent committee that reviewed Singapore’s political salary framework.
President’s salary includes base pay, bonus and variable component
Leader of the House Indranee Rajah introduced the three motions in Parliament on 6 Oct.
The first motion seeks to increase the privy purse from S$1,568,900 to S$2,568,200.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
The privy purse forms part of the Civil List, which funds the upkeep of the President’s Office.
The President’s salary is pegged to the reference monthly salary of the Prime Minister.
It consists of a monthly base salary of S$180,000, a 13th-month bonus and an annual variable component.
The variable component is pegged to the rates received by the general civil service.
The revised privy purse budgets for an annual variable component of 1.25 months.
Ms Indranee said this is consistent with the budgeting practice in previous years.
The actual number of months of variable component the President receives will be calculated on the same basis as for civil servants.
The privy purse also includes S$3,200 for medical benefits.
The actual amount spent may be lower depending on the claims made.
Speaker of Parliament’s annual salary to rise by S$350K
The Speaker of Parliament’s annual salary is pegged to the reference annual salary for a minister at the entry-level MR4 grade.
As it is a part-time position, Mr Seah will receive 50% of the MR4 reference annual salary.
His annual salary will rise from S$550,000 to S$900,000.
This figure assumes an annual variable component of one month.
Source: Parliament of Singapore on Facebook
Deputy Speakers to receive S$135,000 each
The Deputy Speaker is also a part-time position.
Its annual allowance is pegged at 15% of the Speaker’s part-time annual salary.
Under the revised framework, Deputy Speakers Christopher de Souza and Xie Yao Quan will each receive S$135,000 a year.
This also assumes an annual variable component of one month.
Changes follow review of political salary framework
The three motions were introduced after the Government accepted recommendations from an independent committee reviewing Singapore’s political salary framework.
In September, the Government accepted the revised framework.
The motions bring the salaries of the President and parliamentary office-holders in line with the revised framework.
Similar motions were tabled after the previous review of ministerial salaries in 2012.
Those motions were passed without debate, and Parliament approved all three motions unanimously.
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Featured image adapted from MDDI Singapore on YouTube and Parliament of Singapore on Facebook.
