Singapore: Highest paid world leader Lawrence Wong to get salary increase of $1 million - BBC News

Singapore's prime minister Lawrence Wong will see his annual pay rise to 3.6 million Singapore dollars ($2.8m; £2.1m).

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lawrence Wong said the pay raise was necessary to attract talent

Singapore's government says it will raise the annual salaries of its ministers and other office holders, including its prime minister who is the highest paid political leader in the world.

Lawrence Wong will see an increase of 1.4 million Singapore dollars ($1.1m; £818,000) in his annual pay package. He has said he will donate this pay increase to charity over the next five years.

Wong said that raising the pay of ministers was necessary to attract better talent. The government has previously argued that paying ministers high salaries deters corruption.

But the move has attracted criticism in Singapore where there is deep concern about job security and the rising cost of living.