‘Competition for talent’ a poor excuse to keep key executives’ pay under wraps

MARKET regulators and investors often scrutinise the salaries paid to directors and key management of listed companies. And for good reason.

But, amid the push towards greater transparency and corporate governance, it seems almost strange that some of Singapore’s best-known listed companies still decline to disclose in their annual reports the remuneration paid to their key management.

Singapore Exchange (SGX) rules stipulate that companies disclose the names, amounts and breakdown of remuneration in bands no wider than S$250,000 for at least the top five key management personnel, besides directors and the chief executive. Companies have to comply, or explain why they failed to make the disclosure.