MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY MR TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER-IN-CHARGE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARY REVISIONS, AT PARLIAMENT 9 APRIL 2007

April 9, 2007

Conclusion

89. Mr Speaker Sir, three weeks ago I met Dr Henri Ghesquire. He had worked in the International Monetary Fund for over 27 years advising and observing many countries. He served in Singapore in 2004 and 2005 as Director of the IMF-Singapore Regional Training Institute. In his recent book “Singapore’s Success – Engineering Economic Growth”, Dr Ghesquire analysed Singapore’s rapid development. In the concluding chapter, he wrote and I quote “Singapore succeeded because its leadership was assiduous, highly intelligent in a practical way, determined to achieve shared prosperity, and committed to act with integrity. Leading with vision and fortitude is possible. Its benefits can be invaluable. This is Singapore’s ultimate lesson.”

90. Sir, we know financial rewards cannot and should not be the main motivation of those in the Public Service. There are many intrinsic rewards that come from working in the public sector. However, that does not mean that we do not need to pay them market-competitive salaries. We don’t want pay to be the reason for people to join us. But we also don’t want pay to be the reason for them not to join us, or to leave after joining us.

91. Few countries have implemented our philosophy and practice of benchmarking and paying public officers salaries that are pegged to the market, but this system has worked for us. Competitive wages have helped us bring in and retain able men and women in government and in the Public Service in Singa­pore. This policy has served us well. We must maintain this competitive advantage – a clean, effective and efficient Public Service. We need a team of good people to develop the vision, ideas and plans, as well as to see through the execution.

92. In the end, what is our objective? To have a public service that works, that works for the people of Singapore. This way, we will be better placed to realise our vision and dreams for Singapore.

end

» Have your say on this and other issues in our forum pages