Salaries of political appointment holders in Singapore set for review after 14-year gap

After a review scheduled for 2023 was deferred amid global uncertainty, the Government has now convened an independent committee to reassess political appointment holders’ salaries, which have remained unchanged since 2012.

Political appointment holders’ salaries are set to be reviewed, following confirmation in Parliament that the current framework in Singapore has not been updated for more than a decade.

Responding to a Parliamentary question by Member of Parliament Alex Yam on 12 January 2026, Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, said the Government has convened an independent committee to undertake the review.

MP Yam had asked whether the salaries of office holders would be reviewed soon, given that the last scheduled review in 2023 was deferred.

A framework last updated in 2012

Minister Chan explained that the existing salary framework was established by a review committee in 2012. At the time, the Government agreed with the committee’s recommendation that political appointment holders’ salaries should be reviewed by an independent committee every five years.

A subsequent committee was formed in 2017 to review the 2012 framework. That committee concluded that the framework remained sound, and recommended that political salaries be adjusted annually in line with movements in benchmark salaries.

However, despite the recommendation, the Government decided not to make any changes to political salaries then.

Why the 2023 review was deferred

The next scheduled review in 2023 was postponed due to the uncertain external environment and downside risks in the global economy at that time, Minister Chan said.

As a result, both the salary structure and benchmark have remained unchanged since their introduction in 2012.

“It is therefore timely to undertake a review,” he said.

Independent committee convened

The Government has now convened a new independent committee to conduct the review. The committee is chaired by Gan Seow Kee, Alternate Member, Council of Presidential Advisers, with its full composition outlined in the table below.

At a glance: The salary review committee

The committee has been tasked with recommending appropriate salary levels based on the current salary framework. Where necessary, it may also propose refinements to ensure the framework remains relevant and continues to meet its intended purpose.

Minister Chan added that the committee has just been formed and will submit its report to the Government when ready. The Government will then consider the findings and provide an update to Parliament.

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