Civil servants to get 0.65-month year-end bonus

Singapore

CIVIL servants will be paid a year-end bonus of 0.65 month, and lower-wage officers, at least S$1,100.

This compares to the year-end bonus of 0.8 month civil servants got last year, and the S$1,200 minimum lower-wage officers received.

The Public Service Division (PSD) on Wednesday said the year-end bonus is on top of the 13th month bonus, which is to be paid in December with the year-end bonus. Some 1,300 civil servants are expected to benefit from the minimum payment of S$1,100, as the government honours its promise to help low-wage workers.

This means that an officer earning a monthly salary of S$1,500 will get a year-end bonus of S$1,100, which is S$125 more than what he would get at 0.65 month of his monthly salary.

The PSD said the decision on the bonuses was done in consultation with the public-sector unions, including the labour movement.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of a slowing economy.

The PSD said: "The Singapore economy grew by 1.9 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the third quarter of 2015, moderating slightly from the 2 per cent growth in the second quarter. This brought the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first three quarters of 2015 to 2.2 per cent on a year-on-year basis."

It noted that the Ministry of Trade and Industry has forecast that the economy will grow by close to 2 per cent for the whole of 2015, and added that unemployment has remained low, while total employment growth has continued to slow amid weaker economic conditions.

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) pointed out that, together with the mid-year bonus of 0.5 month, public servants will get a total bonus of 1.15 months this year.

Cham Hui Fong, assistant secretary-general of NTUC, said: "Amid the backdrop of a lacklustre global economy, and a downward adjustment of Singapore's economic-growth forecast to close to 2 per cent from an earlier forecast of between 2 and 2.5 per cent, the total payout package shows the government's appreciation of public-service officers for their dedication and contribution."

She was also pleased that the PSD had paid close attention to the lower-wage officers by giving a higher amount than if the bonus had been pegged to their monthly wages.

G. Muthukumarasamy, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Daily-Rated Workers (AUPDRW), also welcomed the minimum bonus for lower-wage workers, saying that it signalled the PSD's continued commitment to help this group.

Yeo Chun Fing, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE), said the union appreciates the positive attitude of the union representatives and the PSD in negotiating the year-end package.