Second pay raise rolled out for public servants

The second phase of the Government's pay raise policy for all public officials over a three-year period has been rolled out after it was appropriated under the 2020-2021 financial year budget.

The total five per cent salary increment which began in 2019 is being rolled out in three phases with the last portion being distributed just before the 2021 General Election in April next year.

In January last year the first pay raise of 1.5 per cent was made, the second was in January this year of 1.5 per cent and the remaining 2 per cent will be implemented in January 2021. 

In the budget estimate for 2021-2021, the difference of the 3 per cent salary increase payout for the position of the Head of State is a $5,500 top up. 

In the 2018-2019 Budget, the Head of State position – who is also the highest paid public servant – had a salary of between $183,855 and $189,371 in the current financial year. The salary does not include a $20,000 allowance. 

The second highest paid public official is the Prime Minister who had a salary of $187,602 in 2018 which dropped to $183,960 for 2020 as noted under the budget estimates. 

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has a $15,000 allowance per annum. 

In 2018, it was reported that Tuilaepa had his salary slashed from $187,500 to $182,070 as per recommendation from the Remuneration Tribunal. 

Similar to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister gets a $15,000 allowance and $146,000 as salary in 2020. 

The Chief Justice is the third highest paid public servant at $170,000 for the current financial year coupled with a $15,000 allowance. 

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly gets $135,000 and the Deputy Speaker $102,000.

While a total of $1,487,000 is allocated for eleven Cabinet Ministers for this financial year. 

Each Cabinet Minister gets $135,000 plus a $13,000 allowance per annum.