S'pore's ministers pay "lags behind private sector benchmark
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A couple of comments from fellow Singaporeans from asia1 forums:
"Singapore key leaders and its ministers deserve good pay. Their pay could be above the benchmark level if they perform well. Any Singaporean has the equal right and opportunity to be a minister. It is not easy for some one to serve the country sincerely leaving their family behind and working for 24/7 w/o over-time compensation. I agree that they must be rewarded accordingly to attract future Singapore leaders."
~Augustine Oei
"Its amazing how our Govt feels that the civil servants and minsters are under-paid.
Look at the ground of the private sectors - we have to get tougher (not better paying) jobs overseas!
The Govt had previously pledged to reduce the size of civil service by at least one-third. That probably was not done but it's never measured anyway. The salaries of the ministers and top position holders were pegged to the top-6% of private sectors. So, how did they suddenly become underpaid?
Most private sectors' employees do not even get more than 1 month bonus this year and the civil service has announced 2.75 month!
If they just keep raising salaries across the public sector, without clear performance-linked measurements made transparent enough, I don't think it is going to be effective in retaining good talents - it shall be more of keeping the massive laggards while the real smaller group of talents will continue to move on.
We've a lot to learn from the successful large MNCs and global corporations..."
~Bronson Ng
"It is indeed an interesting article and the initial gut feel from reading this is the following:
1) Yes. I agree that market forces should decide where the salary levels head for all.
2) However, I would also like to know how the government will be accountable to the public in the case of benchmarking their aggregate / individual performance in line with the performance of the private sector.
3) This direct line of sight will enable a like-for-like comparison in terms of value per dollar obtained.
4) Other considerations in benchmarking should also be revalidated. Example would be the perception of an iron rice bowl (i.e. 5 year "contractual" term) for a minister versus that (i.e. hire and fire mentality) of a top notch banker or lawyer.
We want to retain the best possible talent to manage this country. The best buy-in is through an equitable and transparent benchmarking process leading to the pay increase decision managed around solid deliverables.
Thank you. "
~Joseph Lee -
Uh-huh. So to what level are they going to peg their pay to? Bill Gates?
I can't believe that they can actually make such a claim with a straight face. Even G W Bush (aka the most powerful man on earth) receives much less than what LHL is getting. If I hear anyone who dare say that LHL has a greater amount of responsibilities than Bush, I'm gonna start puking blood.
This nonsense is allowed to happen only because there are Singaporeans who would meekly accept it. Heck, when I raised the issue of LHL's pay relative to Bush's pay with my friends, they went so far as to claim that GW Bush receives 'under-the-counter' payments which we'll never hear of.
Under-the-counter my ass. When Al Gore was running for President, I remember reading that his net assets were worth just US$600k.
So let's sum it all up:
1. The higher-ups say that money to help the poor needs to come from somewhere.
2. This money has to come through the increase of across-the-board regressive taxes (aka GST) which will hit the poor more than the rich.
3. Ministers, who are already being paid much more than their US counterparts who have greater responsibilities supposedly 'deserve' more than what they're getting.
Let me see if I can try to make sense of all this warped logic.
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*&^$# lah...
they can't even be bothered to make up a believable lie anymore.. -
it getting worst under the new PM.
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it took you so long to realise that?
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Let's face it. They know that Singaporeans are either too scared to protest or are really that stupid to buy whatever that they say.Originally posted by the Bear:*&^$# lah...
they can't even be bothered to make up a believable lie anymore..
And for those who do speak up.... they can always be labelled as whiners.
Heck, I've been labelled a whiner by my peers. -
whiner?
does a whiner choose to take up the responsibility of democracy and take the lea-duhs to task?
does a whiner choose to stand up to injustice and ask what's going on?
does a whin...
nevermind.. some things the scared don't even know exist, much less understand -
no wonder i still havent get any pm to ask mi to be a minister..... i'm asking for 3 bowl of rice with luncheon meat nia... spoil market already..
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http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/55700.htmlOriginally posted by 4getmenot:maybe your niece can quote me some examples as well..
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/baptism+of+fire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_by_fire#Daily_speech
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baptismoffire.asp
http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Baptism+of+Fire
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/baptism+by%2Fof+fire
I can go on forever... and my niece is laughing -
So are the minister's pay going up?
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oh er huh... maybe you misread or misunderstood? you said its a common term used.. however maybe you didn;t read my post where i asked you to give me some of these VERY WORDS that were used for a politician or by a politician? Did i asked you for the meaning of the words??Originally posted by ProGovt:http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/55700.html
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/baptism+of+fire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_by_fire#Daily_speech
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baptismoffire.asp
http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Baptism+of+Fire
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/baptism+by%2Fof+fire
I can go on forever... and my niece is laughing
i got a dictionary too to know very well know what it means..
by the way, did you ask your niece if she was laughing at you?
happy searching googe.. i'm sure you'll find something eventually to 'back you up'.. -
Now, they are finally getting chestnuts instead of peanuts.
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maybe they'll upgrade to coconut few years down the road..Originally posted by NUS_Superst@r:Now, they are finally getting chestnuts instead of peanuts. 
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Warren Buffett is paid peanuts~!! He is rich by his shares in His company. if We can really peg our ministers' salary to Him... I dun mind...Originally posted by maurizio13:Maybe we should start pegging our salary to Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, George Soros, etc.
Hehehe -
Wear brown on Sunday!
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U know something? I support the government on most of my posts... I agree on many things they do... But I really dun like this~!!
Ministers' pay are already v High... They can already concentrate their work w/o worrying abt breads and butter... They can comfortably send all their children for overseas education with their present level of pay... Y do they need so much for????
Economy is improving I know~!! But across all sectors?? NO!!! how abt the retail industry... Manufacturing?? International companies are doing well I know... But we oso hv high energy prices here as well... eroding profits... Companies can cover them back easily.... how abt the consumers??
Transport companies rising fares I understand... Coz it is made public listed... The management must return some value for its shareholders... If dun wan fare hike... shouldn't hv made transport companies listed in the 1st place... But Quality is the concern here back then... Listed already sure got pple buy... Coz I declare~!! I buy oso~!! U surely wanna c ur $$ grow rite if u buy... haha
BTW... how come nobody complained mac'donalds value meals are getting more and more expensive? and the hawker centre food prices stay stagnant for some time le? -
I think the formula of calculating MP & PM salaries should change. Tell me how many person of the people living in Singapore can earn 7 or 8 digit salary.
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such people are open to criticism and might lose their job if they fail to perform. they have to take shIt from their shareholders too.Originally posted by Darkness_hacker99:I think the formula of calculating MP & PM salaries should change. Tell me how many person of the people living in Singapore can earn 7 or 8 digit salary.
who decides if a minister is performing up to mark? will they even step down for poor performance? -
I'm not 'young', but I dun agree wif u..Originally posted by ProGovt:Wrong? How old are you, btw? I wouldn't be surprise if you have not heard of this expression if you are young but I would be very astonished to know if you are already a working adult and have not heard of this.
Even my niece who is just in secondary knows of this phrase.
I call this.. "blind faith'.
Remember, LKY and his party is far from being "Godly".
You have insulted Jesus by drawing a parallel between Him and LKY.
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he is a devil in disguise!!!!!Originally posted by siaokao:I'm not 'young', but I dun agree wif u..
I call this.. "blind faith'.
Remember, LKY and his party is far from being "Godly".
You have insulted Jesus by drawing a parallel between Him and LKY. -
i think working 24/7 is realli bad enough liao for civil servant...
but somehow i think the gap between the rich and the poor are realli getting biger..haiz...tats is life -
just read about the accident reported in the papers where this 28-yr-old woman died, she was the sole bread winner of her family surviving on her $1000 salary. on the other side of our world we have a group of politicians complaining about lagging salaries....well done!!
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4getmenot - Did I read wrongly or is your comprehension really that bad? Anyway, it is pointless arguing on this if you do not know what are general expressions.Originally posted by 4getmenot:Secondly, - name me a few examples which the term "baptism of fire" was USED. Since you implied it was a commonly used term, i really would like to see some topics or articles relating to an individual or politics that said this very words? yes, maybe your niece can quote me some examples as well..
Enlighten me..
Guys. The world is unfair. Nobody owes me a living but I made a living myself. We should be grateful for the opportunities.
Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE here, have the potential to become a minister and earn million dollar salary. If you cannot do it, blame yourself. What the point in whining and getting jealous because some else is more capable than you?
The ministers pay are peg to the mean of the top 6 profession that they usually come from; lawyers, doctors etc. It something that they are definitely capable of achieving themselves but they have been ask to serve the public. Surely, we can make it their worth.
Granted, there are poor people in this world. Can you help everyone? The only policy that works is to create equal opportunity for all and let the best and capable reach and take whatever their abilities allows them.
We complained about 2% GST increment. What other ways does the government have to generate revenue? Singapore has no natural resources and have to rely on foreign investment. It is only logical to make it attractive for businesses to stay here.
Increasing GST is fair because if you spend more, if you want a luxury lifestyle, then you pay more. Fair and square across the board.[/u][/b] -
Originally posted by BillyBong:
Why do they care?
Just like that, because the private sector (a select few) are reaping profits due to their dynamism, drive and ability to smell opportunities, the govt says: oh look! We peg our salaries to the top executives, and we're lagging behind...
Are our govt ministers showing the [b]same dynamism and creativity as their private sector 'equivalents'? Did they for one moment wonder whether they have EARNED their pay at all? Isn't this a convenient excuse to pat themselves on the back and give themselves an exhorbitant pay rise, without analysing whether they are actually deserving of such an increment?
[/b] It's the legitimate mafia with the backing of the equally legitimate underworld militia at work we're talking about.
And who was it who said the Russian mafia and no sense of humanity?
Oh, before anyone forgets, besides drawing the highest pay among politicians world-wide, being a politician here also empowers you to earn some pittance once every 5 years through libel suits against opposition... How's that for a deal? -
Originally posted by ProGovt:
I disagree... Increasing GST really affect the poor v v much.... Price hike will occur for all neccessities... Using those wif household income of $1k.... Do you think u will ever bring their kids to Mac Donald's?? By then, hawker food would be more ex than ever~!
Increasing GST is fair because if you spend more, if you want a luxury lifestyle, then you pay more. Fair and square across the board.[/u][/b]
It oso affect the middle class... which most singaporeans belong to this category... Those wif many mouths to feed will hv trouble... Lesser savings or NO savings... 1 holiday per year or Even NO holiday...
The rich wun even bother gg to Mac Donalds how many times per day... or gg for holidays many times per year... with ONLY 2% increase... Do u think they really will spend less?? Yes... I agree they pay more GST here... But that does almost no damage for them... How abt the Poor? They are suffocating~!!
There are many avenues for the Country to increase our revenue... Wat they are doing rite now like opening doors in China, Europe for the earlier days... now for the Middle east, russia and india is Fine, drawing foreign direct investment etc... This strategy they know is out of date... our neighbours are doing the same thing... So our government hv decide to cross borders to draw revenues by going straight into their 'territory' by buying their banks, airline, telco etc.. When they Grow, We oso Grow~!! Keeping our currency relatively strong so that our Our Assets is worth more than our neighbouring countries etc...
Overall, they dun need the 2% increase in GST to bring in more revenue...