Top-paid gov’t employee earns 31 times more than lowest
Spira Tlhankane | Monday May 26, 2025 16:13
For example, the top earner takes home about P100,000, and other extended perks while the lowest earner's salary is P3,200. This represents a difference of over 31 times payment disparity.
Macholo disclosed that the basic salary of the lowest-paid employee in the public service is P2,800, with an additional upkeep allowance of P452, totalling P3,200.
While the director was initially evasive about revealing the salary of the top-paid public servant, she later revealed it was somewhere over P100,000, including allowances.
Macholo was responding to a question from the PAC chairperson and Bobirwa legislator Taolo Lucas, who had asked, amongst other things, if these high levels of inequality are acceptable.
She admitted that the gap between the top and lowest-paid public servants is too wide.
“From where we come from as a country, we were looking at the market forces around what the lowest and highest salaries should be.
“We were looking at what the market is and what the market can be able to afford. It is really about what the market has been valuing the worth of a particular job,” Macholo told the PAC hearing.
Asked if there is any intention to deal with these high levels of disparities, Macholo said they are depending on the new government to implement their promise of introducing a monthly P4,000 living wage.
She said by the end of this financial year, DPSM would have had the living wage conversation and decided whether or not the government can afford to implement it.
“We need to do a study and also something related to the worth of a job. The new government is worried about the levels of inequalities in the public service and nationally,” Macholo added.
She said they are fully engaged on the matter and that the public should expect to hear from them soon.
The pay gap in government has widened in recent years, and previously, the top-paid civil servant earned more than the President before the latter’s salary was increased last year.
After the adjustment in April last year, the President’s monthly income rose from P89,588 per month to P110,425 excluding allowances.
The financial perks of the highest office increased when the President also started receiving the monthly P19,378 constituency allowance, pushing his monthly earnings to over P100,000 with a salary increase of approximately P20,837.
Despite last year’s Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ntlo ya Dikgosi representatives, the highest-paid government employee still earns more than the Vice President, ministers, and MPs.
Currently, the Vice President gets P96,864 per month, while a Minister earns P74,468 per month.
An Assistant Minister gets P57,303 per month while a Deputy Speaker earns P65,885 per month. Just like assistant ministers, the Leader of the Opposition (LoO) earns P65,885 per month.
Most public service leaders’ compensation goes beyond just their basic salary since most receive extensive benefits packages that provide higher value and notable perks.