The Government has accepted all 18 recommendations by the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers on 30 August 2021. These include expanding the Progressive Wage approach and coverage to uplift more local lower-wage workers.
| Key recommendations |
- Expand Sectoral Progressive Wages (PWs) to retail, food services and waste management
- Extend existing cleaning, security and landscape Sectoral PWs to in-house local workers
- Introduce Occupational PWs for administrators and drivers
- Introduce new requirement where firms employing foreign workers have to pay at least the relevant Sectoral or Occupational PWs to local workers in applicable job roles, and at least the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) to all other local workers.
|
| When they will be implemented |
Existing sectoral PWs (cleaning, security, landscape):
- Licensing / registration requirements will continue to apply
Sectoral PWs in new sectors:
- Retail from 1 September 2022
- Food services from 1 March 2023
- Waste management from 1 July 2023
Extension of existing cleaning, security and landscape Sectoral PWs to local in-house workers:
Occupational PWs for administrators and drivers:
New LQS requirement (for all other local workers not covered by PWs)
|
Expand Sectoral PWs
New Sectoral PWs will uplift local employees in the following sectors:
- Retail from 1 September 2022
- Food services from 1 March 2023
- Waste management from 1 July 2023
More information on the upcoming retail and food services PWMs will be announced when the Tripartite Clusters for Retail and Food Services release their recommendations later in 2022.
Extend existing Sectoral PWs to in-house workers
From 1 September 2022, the existing Sectoral PWs for cleaning, security, and landscape will be extended to cover local in-house cleaners, security officers and landscape maintenance workers. Currently, these Sectoral PWs are only applicable to local workers in licensed or registered firms.
The wages for local in-house workers are subject to changes as recommended by respective Tripartite Clusters.
Occupational PWs
The Occupational PWs will help to uplift local workers who are in occupations that exist across many sectors.
From 1 March 2023, administrators and drivers will be covered under Occupational PWs.
| Administrators |
PW monthly gross wages for locals working full-time
(i.e. 35-44 hours per week) |
|
Administrative assistants
Perform basic admin tasks such as data entry or running errands.
E.g. data entry clerks, office attendants.
|
≥ $1,500
|
|
Administrative executives
Perform customer service, records management or data analysis duties.
E.g. office cashiers, general office clerks, receptionists.
|
≥ $2,000
|
|
Administrative supervisors
Perform supervisory functions.
E.g. office supervisors.
|
≥ $2,800
|
| Drivers |
PW monthly gross wages for locals working full-time
(i.e. 35-44 hours per week) |
|
General drivers
Operate vehicles requiring up to Class 3 driving licence.
E.g. motorcycle delivery drivers, van drivers.
|
≥ $1,750
|
|
Specialised drivers
Operate vehicles requiring Class 4 driving licence and above, and other specialised driver roles.
E.g. trailer-truck drivers, bus drivers, chauffeurs.
|
≥ $1,850
|
Occupational PW wage requirements will be pro-rated for part-time work on the basis of 44 hours of work per week, and will need to meet at least the LQS part-time rate (i.e. $9/per hour).
Wage requirements will increase with every hour of overtime work. More details will be released soon.
New requirements to hire foreign workers
From 1 September 2022, firms employing foreign workers e.g. Work Permit, S Pass or EP holders will need to pay
- PWs to local workers covered by the relevant Sectoral or Occupational PWs (i.e. in cleaning, security and landscape maintenance sectors, and new PWMs that are introduced progressively from 1 September 2022),
AND
- at least the LQS to all other local workers.
Firms that do not comply with the requirements will not be able to renew existing work passes or apply for new work passes.
The LQS is $1,400 today. The LQS wage requirement will be pro-rated for part-time work and will increase for every hour of overtime work.