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Singapore to Raise Monthly MP Allowances to S$18,500 Starting October
Singapore's Members of Parliament (MPs) will see their monthly allowances rise from S$13,750 to S$18,500 (US$10,850 to US$14,600) effective Oct 15, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in parliament on Tuesday.
Wong said the government deliberately avoided treating the allowance as merely symbolic. "It is a substantial allowance, because MPs carry substantial responsibilities in parliament and in their constituencies," he said, adding that adequate compensation has allowed both the People's Action Party and the Workers' Party to attract strong candidates. "We can see the result in this House. We have MPs with a wide range of backgrounds and experience, who bring different perspectives to our debates," he said, noting that despite sharp disagreements across party lines, the standard of parliamentary debate remains high.
Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing followed with a ministerial statement explaining that the increase accounts for inflation. "This is a practical update to ensure that MPs are adequately supported in discharging their duties on the ground," Chan said.
The announcements come in response to a 2026 independent committee review of political salaries, chaired by Dr Gerard Ee, which proposed several revisions to how ministerial pay is determined. Chan said the government will examine