Singapore civil servants to receive 0.3-month mid-year bonus

THE Singapore government will pay all civil servants a mid-year bonus or annual variable component (AVC) of 0.3 month, the Public Service Division (PSD) announced on Friday.

In addition, civil servants in more junior grades will also receive a one-time payment of S$350 or S$700.

This comes as the government would like to recognise "the tireless efforts of civil servants while bearing in mind the overall economic situation", and made the decision in close consultation with the public-sector unions, PSD said in a press statement.

The one-time payment, which will be in addition to the AVC, will be S$350 for those in grades equivalent to MX13(I) and MX14, and S$700 for those in grades equivalent to MX15 and MX16 and the Operations Support Scheme Grades III to V.

In 2020, there were no mid-year and year-end bonuses for civil servants in view of the challenging economic conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, about 2,400 lower-wage civil servants received a one-time lump sum payment of S$1,200, as announced last November.

The National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) deputy secretary-general, Cham Hui Fong, said on Friday that the mid-year bonus and additional payment for lower-grade officers would be "a welcome reward for our civil servants".

"We are heartened that the government took into consideration the National Wages Council's recommendation by providing a one-off lump sum for our lower-wage workers," Ms Cham noted. "We hope the govenrment will consider built-in wage increases that are more sustainable and can uplift their incomes in the longer term," she added.

Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) general secretary, Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, said: "Despite the tough economic conditions and uncertainties in the Covid-19 situation, we have managed to conclude a moderated package that recognises the hard work and contributions of our public officers."

He expressed gratitude to public officers "who have stood at the forefront and gone beyond their call of duty during the pandemic to serve our people".

NTUC also called on private-sector companies that are seeing growth or recovering to similarly show their appreciation to and reward their workers "duly and fairly".

PSD on Friday noted that Singapore's economy and labour market have seen positive developments in Q1 2021, although significant downside risks and uncertainties remain, and the pace of recovery is expected to be uneven across various sectors.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has maintained a growth forecast of 4-6 per cent for Singapore's gross domestic product in 2021.

PSD said the government will continue to monitor the economic situation closely. In deciding on the year-end AVC payments, it will take into consideration the guidelines by the National Wages Council, to be released later this year.

"We deeply appreciate the hard work and perseverance of all public officers in the fight against Covid-19," PSD added.