(Singapore, Feb 28, 2020) All of Singapore’s cabinet ministers and political office holders, including President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will take a one-month pay cut to support the city country’s battle against the coronavirus outbreak, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has told the Parliament.
He also said that public officers in the front line of that battle will get up to one extra month of special bonus. They will include healthcare officers in restructured hospitals and the Health Ministry and some of those in other front-line agencies who have been directly involved in fighting the COVID-19 disease.
Other public officers who have contributed significantly will be recognised appropriately, he said. A one-off Covid-19 grant will also be given to the 900 general practitioner clinics that have been designated Public Health Preparedness Clinics, to support them in their efforts to care for patients with respiratory symptoms.
So far, there are 96 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Singapore. Among them, 66 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.
“Our front-line workers, especially healthcare workers in the restructured hospitals, have shown outstanding courage and dedication. They are out there making daily sacrifices to fight this war against the unknown,” said Mr Heng.
“While we cannot thank them enough, we can show our appreciation and support in a tangible way,” he added in a speech rounding up three days of debate on this year’s Budget.
According to a 2012 White Paper on government salaries that was quoted by SCMP, entry-level ministers earn S$1.1 million (US$786,600) a year, with bonuses making up about 35 per cent of the package, or about S$55,000. This means a one-month salary reduction would reduce their annual package by about 5 per cent. The Prime Minister earns twice as much, at S$2.2 million. Members of Parliament get an allowance that averages around S$16,000 a month.
