sought answers for the actual total remuneration received by ministers at the entry-level MR4 grade,<\/span><\/a> including the maximum bonus allowed under the salary framework.<\/p>\nReplying, PM Wong reiterated that he intends to look at how to provide more information to the public on ministerial pay, \u201cgiven the interest in where the salary bands are, where ministers lie in terms of the salary ranges, and how the variable payouts will be\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said he would not be able to reveal the grades of specific ministers or what their performance bonuses were.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut giving such information in broad ranges, I think that\u2019s reasonable, and we will consider and study how we can provide such information in the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Singh had also said some public servants who join the Government as ministers could potentially get a pay increase from what they had previously earned in the civil service.<\/p>\n
In response, PM Wong said: \u201cI want to dispel that myth. That does not happen. There is no increase when civil servants join politics. Sometimes it is even a pay cut.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that civil servants who stay on in the civil service and do well would very likely have earned more than they would in politics.<\/p>\n
\u2018I am proud of all our mayors\u2019<\/h2>\n
Singh also asked the Government if it intends to keep the office of the mayor and to explain its role and function, noting that it remains unclear to many Singaporeans what the job scope of mayors is.<\/p>\n
PM Wong replied that mayors and the Community Development Councils they chair bring value by mobilising a wider network of volunteers, responding to local needs and contributing to initiatives such as CDC vouchers and the Jobs Nearby scheme, which helps Singaporeans find jobs close to their homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would not want to give up any of these contributions. I am proud of all our mayors and what they do for Singapore,\u201d the Prime Minister said, as MPs thumped their seats in approval.<\/p>\n