Singapore to Refine Local Qualifying Salary in Upcoming Budget

Singapore’s manpower minister says the Local Qualifying Salary will be refined in Budget 2026, as the Government reviews wage support policies alongside Silver Support thresholds for lower-income seniors nationally.

The Local Qualifying Salary (LQS), which sets the minimum monthly wage employers must pay Singaporeans before hiring foreign workers, will be refined in the upcoming Budget, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said.

Singapore Budget

Speaking in Parliament on Jan 13, Dr Tan said details would be announced later, noting the Government is still calibrating changes carefully. He was responding to questions on the Silver Support Scheme, which provides quarterly cash supplements to seniors aged 65 and above with low lifetime wages.

The LQS was last raised in 2024, increasing from $1,400 to $1,600 as part of Budget measures announced by then deputy prime minister Lawrence Wong. The move was paired with enhanced Workfare payouts to support lower-wage workers amid rising costs.

Addressing concerns over policy alignment, Dr Tan clarified that the Silver Support Scheme’s $1,500 threshold refers to per capita household income, not individual earnings. Budget speech scheduled Feb 12.

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