Taken from Low Thia Khiang:
According to a 2005 report by the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs, United Nations, the Singapore civil service has some of
the highest paid civil servants in the world. Our government holds
the view that this will ensure a clean, competent and effective
civil service. However, the facts show that other countries with
lower paid civil servants are also able to enjoy such
qualities.
Based on the Corruption Perceptions Index
(CPI) and Global Competitiveness Index (GPI), Singapore ranks below
Finland and Denmark for 2005 and 2006. However, the
governing of a country should not only take into account these 2
factors. A more important factor that directly affects the lives of
every Singaporean living here is the quality of life. A survey that evaluates 39 quality of living
criteria, including political, social, economic and environmental
factors, personal safety and health, education, transport and other
public services, found in 2006 that Swiss cities have topped the
annual survey again, while Singapore, with its highly paid and thus
highly competent and clean government, ranked best only among Asian
cities but was 34th in the world (ST 2 April 2007).
Based on the above facts, it would be interesting to know how much
the civil servants are paid in countries such as Denmark, Finland
and Switzerland, just to name a few. According to a United Nations
report, the Switzerland Federal Office of Personnel revealed that
the basic remuneration of civil servants range from 55,000 Swiss
Franc to 321,000 Swiss Franc in 2006, which based on an exchange
rate of 1.25, is about S$69,000 to S$402,000. Good performers
receive merit increments of up to 6%, while worst-performing staff
may get a decrease in salary. Although bonuses can reach 12% of
salary for outstanding performance, and residence and overtime
allowances are paid, it still seems
that the highest paid Swiss civil servants receive a lower salary
than what Singapore civil servants and Ministers receive. (Note:
they have neither a prime minister nor a president)
http://www.wp.sg/wp/articles/2007/0409_ltk_ministerial_civil_service_pay.php
