Sarcasm and Wit... and a little bit of deja vu.

I love sarcasm and wit wherever and whenever I see one. However subtle it may be…

As printed on The Straits Times today:

HEADLINE: “CIVIL SERVANTS TO GET HALF-MONTH BONUS PLUS $220”

“The total payout, which is identical to last year, comes amid “positive economic developments” both here and overseas…”

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Last years news (as archived on AsiaOne):

Singapore's 60,000 civil servants will get a 2.2 month bonus in December, which will bring the total payout for this year to 2.7 months.

Together with the half-month plus an additional $200 bonus in July, this will make it a bumper payout for civil servants, topping last year's 2.15 months and $200.

Announcing the higher bonus today, a statement from the Public Service Division said: " The economy has shown better performance than anticipated this year. The latest GDP growth forecast by the Ministry of Trade and Industry is 7.5 to 8 per cent.

"On the labour front, the unemployment rate fell from 3.2 per cent last year to 2.7 per cent, as a record high of 123,100 jobs were created in the first nine months of 2006.

"This is the highest number of jobs created in a decade. Preliminary market data indicates that wages in some private sector jobs have shown a significant increase in 2006. With steady economic growth expected in 2007, private sector salaries are expected to continue to rise.

"This rising trend is already having an impact on Civil Service recruitment and retention. The year-end 2.2 months payout is therefore a reflection of this year’s strong economic performance and the tighter labour market situation."

The 2.2-month payout will comprise a year-end Annual Variable Component (AVC) of one month, a Special Bonus of 0.2 month and the 13th month annual wage supplement in December.

In July, civil servants received a mid-year AVC of 0.5 month and a one-off payment of $220, in line with the call by the National Wages Council for employers to help low wage workers.

Reacting to news of the higher bonus, primary school teacher Mdm A. Lim told AsiaOne: " I am happy we will be getting more this year, but it seems fair as this will help make up for the increases coming in the next few months like the 7 per cent GST and public transport."

The National Trades Union Congress, welcoming the announcement, said that the higher AVC augurs well for civil servants, especially the lower and middle-income civil servants.

Its Assistant Secretary-General, Madam Halimah Yacob, said in a statement: "We are glad that the Government has considered and accepted our views and recommendations that a higher year-end payment should be given as a result of the stronger economic showing.

“The higher total payment corresponds closely to Singapore’s strong economic growth in the first three quarters, particularly in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction and other major services sectors.

"It highlights the fact that a stronger economy would benefit our workers as it translates into higher bonus payments, and would serve as a motivation for workers and the tripartite partners to work even closer together to boost Singapore’s economy."

In 2004, when the economy grew by 8.7 per cent, civil servants received a total bonus of 2.25 months' pay, including a special bonus. The only other time in recent years when a special bonus had been paid was in 2000, another year of strong economic growth, when the civil service was rewarded with a three-month payout, including a 1.75-month AVC.

But the AVC was even higher in the 1990s, at two months' pay in the years from 1991 and 1997.

In the lean years between 2001 and 2003, however, there was neither an AVC nor any special bonus for civil servants.