Singapore poised to halve ministers’ salaries 新加坡領導人將集體大減薪

2012年01月05日 12:33 PM
新加坡領導人將集體大減薪
Singapore poised to halve ministers’ salaries
英國《金融時報》 莎拉•米西金香港報導



Singapore is set to cut its politicians' pay by up to 51 per cent amid mounting public concern at income inequality and the rising cost of living in the wealthy city-state.


隨著新加坡民眾對收入不平等和生活成本上升的擔憂加劇，這個富裕城國預計將削減政界人士薪酬，幅度最高將達到51%。

Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister, has pledged to accept the pay cut proposal, which will reduce ministerial salaries and award bonuses that are dependent on Singapore hitting socio-economic targets, including low unemployment and growth in the income of the poorest fifth of the country's citizens.


新加坡總理李顯龍(Lee Hsien Loong)已承諾，將接受減薪提案。根據這項提案，政府部長們的薪酬將被削減，而獎金將視新加坡能否達到社會和經濟方面的各項目標而定，這些目標包括：失業率保持在較低水平，全國最貧窮的五分之一人口的收入得到增長。

The cuts were recommended by a committee convened by the government after fierce elections last year in which ministers' pay came under criticism from the opposition.


去年新加坡舉行了選舉，選情極其激烈，期間部長們的薪酬問題遭到反對黨的猛烈抨擊。之後政府便成立了一個委員會，減薪提案就是該委員會提出的。

“This is a complex and politically difficult issue with major implications for the future of Singapore,” the prime minister wrote in a letter to the committee.


“這是一個複雜的政治難題，對新加坡的未來有著重大意義，”李顯龍總理在致委員會的信函中寫道。

Singapore's generous pay for ministers is often cited as a rea​​son why the country is relatively efficient and free of corruption. The new pay scheme is designed to link politicians' pay to the welfare of average Singaporeans while remaining competitive with the private sector for talent, the committee said in its report.


新加坡的政府部長們享受著高工資，這經常被認為是該國政府相對高效和清廉的原因之一。該委員會在其報告中表示，新薪酬方案旨在把政界人士的薪酬與普通百姓的福利掛鉤，同時使其在與私人部門爭奪人才時仍保持競爭力。

The salary of an entry-level minister will now be set by the median earnings of the top 1,000 citizens, discounted by 40 per cent. Previously, salaries were benchmarked against the wages of the top 48 earners.


今後，政府部長的起步薪酬，將是收入最高的1000位市民薪酬中值的60%，而過去作為基準的是收入最高的48位市民的工資。

Mr Lee, whose pay will be cut 36 per cent, will still earn S$2.2m ($1.7m). Singapore's president will earn S$1.54m after a cut of 51 per cent. Barack Obama is paid $400,000. Ministers' salaries start at S $935,000.


李顯龍的薪酬將下降36%，但年薪仍高達220萬新元（合170萬美元）。新加坡總統的年薪將下降51%，為154萬新元。相比之下，美國總統巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)的年薪是40萬美元。新加坡政府部長的起步年薪將為93.5萬新元。