The public sector will boost the salaries of its engineers and provide them with a clear road map of career advancement, in a bid to attract and retain talent.
Engineering graduates joining the public service will get a salary starting from $3,800 a month, while those entering the information and communications technology sector will start from $4,000 a month.
The starting pay will be 20 per cent higher on average.
The pay of engineers already in the public sector will be reviewed and adjusted as well.
These moves will ensure salaries of public-sector engineers stay competitive against the market rate no matter the stage of their career, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said yesterday.
But raising their pay alone is not enough, added DPM Teo, who is also the Minister-in- charge of the civil service.
Seven public agencies, including the Housing Board and national water agency PUB, will develop "competency frameworks" later this year to outline skills needed by engineers as they advance in their careers.
Mr Teo also elaborated on the 1,000 engineers who will be hired by the public sector this year. Seven out of 10 of the newcomers will focus on improving Singapore's infrastructure, while the rest will work on the country's goal to be a Smart Nation. The 1,000 new hires will comprise both Singaporeans and foreigners.
