Civil servants to get 0.45-month mid-year bonus; one-time payment of up to S$250 for junior officers
This is the highest such bonus since before the pandemic in 2019
CIVIL servants in Singapore will receive a 0.45-month mid-year bonus, with junior grade officers set to get an additional one-time payment of up to S$250, the Public Service Division (PSD) said on Thursday (Jun 20).
This is the highest mid-year bonus since 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year’s mid-year annual variable component payout amounted to 0.3 month.
The payouts were decided in close consultation with the public sector unions, PSD said. The better economic outlook, as well as the downside risks which remain in the global economy, were taken into consideration for this round of payments.
Civil servants in grades equivalent to MX13(I) and MX14 will receive an additional payment of S$150. Meanwhile, those in grades equivalent to MX15 and MX16, as well as those in the Operations Support Scheme Grades III and IV, will receive a higher one-time payment of S$250.
Singapore’s first-quarter gross domestic product came in at 2.7 per cent, unchanged from advance estimates. It was also better than the 2.2 per cent expansion recorded in the previous quarter.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry also maintained its full-year growth forecast of between 1 and 3 per cent for 2024.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
The government will continue to monitor the economic situation closely, and take into consideration the guidelines by the National Wages Council, in determining the year-end bonus, said PSD.
In a statement, Cham Hui Fong, deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, said the 0.45-month bonus reflects Singapore’s economic performance while also acknowledging civil servants’ efforts.
“The additional lump sum also demonstrates the government’s progressive support for our junior officers,” she added.
Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees, said the union appreciates that the mid-year bonus payout surpasses the previous year’s. The one-off lump sum payments for junior officers will also give a boost of morale to civil servants.
“While there are still uncertainties ahead, this payout fairly acknowledges the efforts of our officers and demonstrates progressiveness by ensuring lower-income officers can cope with inflation and rising living costs.”
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
