SINGAPORE - Thousands of civil servants have had their pay increased by about 5 per cent this month, under a move by the public sector to adjust salaries across ministries and ensure they are comparable with those in the private sector.

Those who benefit from the adjustment are management executive officers, management support officers, technical support officers and clerical support officers, the Public Service Division (PSD) said in a reply to queries.

In its statement, the PSD said: "Having studied private sector salary data, PSD has selectively made salary adjustments for some generic schemes of service in August 2014 to close the gaps with the market and ensure that salaries remain competitive."

Salaries which were found to be already market competitive were not adjusted.

"The civil service continues to face competition in the hiring market" given Singapore's economic growth over the past two years and the continuing tight labour market, the PSD added.

Salaries of civil servants are reviewed annually and "adjustments are made where necessary" to keep pace with the market, it said. "We are careful not to lead the market."

Amalgamated Union of Public Employees general secretary Ma Wei Cheng said that salaries were being adjusted by "generally 5 per cent" and would benefit thousands of civil servants.

Statutory boards, which are separate entities from ministries, set their own salaries "although they may take reference from the civil service", said PSD.