6/13/23, 8:11 AM What is the Progressive Wage Model

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What is the Progressive Wage Model

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) helps to increase wages of workers through upgrading skills and improving productivity.

What is it

Developed by tripartite committees consisting of unions, employers and the government, the PWM helps to uplift lower-
wage workers' wages.

Since being implemented, PWM sectors have raised wages at a sustainable and meaningful pace, without hurting the
livelihoods of the lower-wage workers.

The PWM benefits workers by mapping out a clear career pathway for their wages to rise along with training and
improvements in productivity and standards.

At the same time, higher productivity improves business profits for employers. Service buyers also enjoy better service
standards and quality.

Who it covers

The PWM covers Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents (PRs) in the Sectoral PWs in cleaning, security,
landscape, lift and escalator, retail, and food services job roles.

Employers are encouraged to use the principles of progressive wage for their foreign employees.

Since 1 September 2022, Progressive Wages (PWs) expanded to cover retail workers, and in-house cleaners, security
officers and landscape maintenance employees.

Food services PWM and occupational PWs for administrators and drivers have been implemented from March 2023,
while waste management PWM will be implemented from July 2023.

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PWMs currently in effect

Sectoral / Occupational PWs PWM requirements took effect from

Cleaning sector 1 September 2014

Extension to in-house cleaners 1 September 2022

Security sector 1 September 2016

Extension to in-house security officers 1 September 2022

Landscape sector 30 June 2016

Extension to in-house landscape maintenance employees 1 September 2022

Lift and escalator sector 1 May 2019

Retail sector 1 September 2022

Food services sector 1 March 2023

Occupational PWs for administrators and drivers 1 March 2023

Find out more about the expansion of Progressive Wage approach and coverage.

How it is implemented

The PWM in the cleaning, security, landscape and lift and escalator sectors are regulated by their respective lead sector
agencies through:

Sector Regulated by

Cleaning Licensing condition by NEA

Security Licensing condition by PLRD (SPF)

Landscape Landscape Company Register requirement by NParks

Lift and Voluntary adoption during contractor registration requirement by BCA

escalator

Note
Lift and escalator firms that tender to undertake Government contracts for lift maintenance will
have to adopt PWM.

Requirements
 from 1 September 2022

From 1 September 2022, the following are also implemented through employers' eligibility for work passes:

PWM in the cleaning, security, landscape, and retail sectors

Extension of the PWM to in-house cleaners, security officers and landscape maintenance employees

Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) requirement

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From September 2022 to February 2023, employers will be given time to adjust and comply to the wage requirements
implemented from 1 September 2022. Employers who do not comply with the requirements during this transitional
period will not face enforcement action.

Requirements
 from 1 March 2023

From 1 March 2023, the following are also implemented through employers' eligibility for work passes:

PWM in the food services sectors

Occupational progressive wages for administrators and drivers

From March 2023 to August 2023, employers will be given time to adjust and comply to the wage requirements
implemented from 1 March 2023. Employers who do not comply with the requirements during this transitional period
will not face enforcement action.

Firms hiring foreign workers must comply with the PWM requirements for local employees covered by the respective
PWMs and the LQS requirements for all other local employees, in order to renew existing work passes or apply for new
work passes. Find out more on how to comply .

Help for employers

If you are an employer, you can tap on the Workfare Skills Support  scheme to offset a significant portion of the
training costs for your Singaporean employees.

Visit the Business Grants Portal  if you want to:

Apply for support for job redesign

Raise productivity and build capabilities for sustainable growth

From 2022 to 2026, the Government is co-funding eligible wage increases given to lower-wage workers through the
Progressive Wage Credit Scheme . Employers are encouraged to use this period of support to accelerate firm-level
productivity improvements.

 Related questions

Does the Progressive Wage Model also apply to part-time or temporary workers?

How can I tell that my cleaning service provider is paying its workers appropriate wages?

I'm a cleaner, and my employer has paid me incorrect wages. What can I do?

Report vulnerability 
Privacy
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Last Updated: 10 March 2023

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