This morning when I turn on the radio, GOOD NEWS for all Philippine civil servant they announce on the radio they will be a round house salary increment for all Civil servant in Philippine from the police, nurse, accountant, others.
In the past working in Civil services in Singapore besides looking toward salary increment , there also the monetary remuneration on the payroll, like most civil servants today everywhere they still possess such privileges as subsidizes medical care and others.
However, everything come with a catch, when the government decided to increase the salary, the whole process of recruitment, appointment and selection of civil servants making more competitive is a crucial aspect in the professionalization effort. The government also pays intensive attention to wage reform and in-service
education and training. They are key elements in current attempts to professionalize and upgrade the civil service system. Hopping, that the idea of paying high salaries to foster a clean corruption free government
Adopting and demonstrating, the strong political will to combat corruption through the introduction of stringent administrative and legal measures to support the anti corruption law, empowering the independent Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) to prosecute corrupt officials, and promote ethical leadership lead by example. Importantly, successful prosecution of cases against public officials whether it a Senior,junior,police or Minister the cases was displayed publicly in the CPIB website, these in turn also bolstered public support to the government’s anti corruption drive.
That is the big picture! as for whether our Singapore president, minister holding the highest paid salary in the world that is out of my league.
I more interested in individual like me who in a small way play a small role and like people on the ground so called front line officer dealing with public or prisoner. Do salary increase stem out corruption ?
Those old timer prison officer working in prison recalled that when the prison officer pay was miserably low In the past, most officer do not hesitate to smuggle any contra band into the prison with a price. You will be endangered speices if you have strong presence of will not to do it. Those who get caught end up like they say "trade uniform" and had an 2x2 cell as an office .
So in the 1980s when prison civil services had a big round of salary increment for the ground officer. No dispute! it instilled a mentality of "thinking twice before you doing something" that might jeopardize your rice bowl. Since the salary now, not only putting food on the table and also some little extra income for recreation, family holiday or hobblies that one can indulge in. Since than smuggling contra band inside prison is way down like practically unheard of during the past decade .
Puff, everything have their yin and yang or trade off
Ten civil servants standing in a line,
One of them was downsized - then there were nine.
Nine civil servants who must negotiate to stay in the job,
One joined the union - then there were eight.
Eight civil servants thought they were in heavenly secure,
'Til one of them was redeployed - then there were seven.
Seven civil servants thought their jobs as safe as bricks,
But one was reclassified for medical unfit- then there were six.
Six civil servants decide to have an education upgrade and trying to survive,
One of them was privatised - then there were five.
Five civil servants ready to give more,
But one was given the golden handshake reduced them to four.
Four civil servants demonstrate full of loyalty,
Their jobs were all advertised - then there were three.
Three civil servants under review,
One was offer on secondment - then there were two.
Now Two civil servants had to cope on ton of work ,
One nearly had an heart attack because of the endless audit and put on medical stress leave
then there was one.
The last civil servant agreed to relocate,
Replaced by 10 consultants at twice the hourly rate.
Job satisfaction among higher non-expatriate civil servants in Hong Kong, (Dept. of Sociology, University of Singapore. Working papers, no. 9)
