My Opinions On The Ministers' Pay Hike

links:
http://news.asiaone.com.sg/a1news/20070410_story8_1.html
http://www.asia1.com/specials/government_payhike/


The recent statistics revealed that the top private-sector salaries have surged ahead of those in the public sector, resulting in an urgent need to increase the salaries of those working in the civil service so as to narrow the wide income gap. Many disgruntled citizens are most concerned with the increase in the ministers' pay, where this controversial issue have sparked off many fierce debates regarding the need for the ministerial pay hike. Even though the conclusion of this issue is set, but i would like to revisit this issue and offer my humble views regarding this event.

The reasons given by the government to substantiate the pay hike are the need to keep the salaries of government officials attractive so as to retain the able ones, in order to prevent the outflow of talents from the government. The attractive pay can also act as an incentive to bring in a continuing flow of able and successful people to the government, ensuring a first class government. i do not deny the need for the pay hike, but the extent of the increase is questionable. What irks me is the fact that as many aged are starving because the miserly assistance they receive every month is insufficient for their subsistence, and many Singaporeans are trying to make a living as they battle with the realities of life-retrenchment, no pay rise for long periods of time, lack of lob securites, ministers are debating on the pay hike when their pays are already pitched at a level far greater than what most Singaporeans are earning currently. It does seem a little too insensitive and callous to carry out this debate admist the many struggling when the ministers are currently earning 1.2 million already. what in their opinion is enough then?

While the government officers claim that the use of the pays of the private sectors as a benchmark is reasonable as many of the ministers hold high paying jobs before they entered the government, i however, beg to differ. Civil service is publice service. The same should apply to the government, where in my opinion, government officials should serve from a sense of idealism and duty to the country. The attractive pays offered by the government may cause people to forgo their noble ideals, and work in the government purely for monetary gains. This might affect the moral authority of the government.