Civil servants to receive 0.35-month mid-year bonus; one-time payment for junior grade officers

SINGAPORE:  Civil servants in Singapore will receive a 0.35-month mid-year bonus and junior grade officers will get an additional one-time payment of S$200 or S$400, the Public Service Division (PSD) said on Monday (Jun 20). 

Civil servants in grades equivalent to MX13(I) and MX14 will receive an additional one-time payment of S$200. Those in grades equivalent to MX15 and MX16, and those in the Operations Support Scheme (OSS) Grades III to V, will receive a higher one-time payment of S$400.

This mid-year payment takes into consideration that Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2022 is likely to come in at the lower half of the forecast range of 3 per cent to 5 per cent amid "economic uncertainties", said PSD.

After the economic recovery in 2021, Singapore’s economy expanded by 3.7 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the first quarter of 2022.

"On the labour front, total employment continued to expand, with unemployment rates declining to pre-pandemic levels in February 2022," said PSD. 

"Domestically, the COVID-19 situation has stabilised and border restrictions have lifted since end-March."

But "significant downside risks remain ahead for Singapore", said PSD in a press release.

The external demand outlook this year has deteriorated, due in part to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has "exacerbated global supply disruptions and adversely affected the growth of many economies", it added.

Last year, civil servants were given a 0.3-month mid-year bonus and a one-month year-end bonus. Those in junior grades also received additional one-time payments last year.

"Singapore’s economy is recovering with the resumption of activities post-pandemic, but we are also cognisant of the economic uncertainties looming amidst geo-political tensions and the global supply disruptions," said Ms Cham Hui Fong, deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

She said the mid-year bonus is a "timely recognition" of civil servants' "dedication in serving the people during the pandemic period".

"NTUC also urges employers and employees, from both the public and private sectors, to constantly transform themselves so that they remain competitive and seize opportunities. This should lead to better business and work prospects so that in the longer term, it leads to higher productivity and better wages," she added.

Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE), said it appreciates the "moderate increase" in this year's mid-year bonus compared to last year's mid-year bonus, given the "current economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and inflationary pressures"

"We hope that things will turn around so that there will be better outcomes at the end of the year," he said.

"The pandemic has underscored the importance of a strong Public Service and the Government deeply appreciates the hard work and perseverance of all public officers who have contributed to the COVID-19 fight and Singapore’s economic recovery," said PSD.

"In deciding the year-end Annual Variable Component payments, the Government will continue to monitor the economic situation closely, and take into consideration the National Wages Council’s guidelines, which will be released later in the year."

The Civil Service comprises about 87,000 officers working in ministries.