Progressive Wage Model for the lift and escalator sector

The Progressive Wage Model wage requirement applies to lift and escalator maintenance employees who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents.

What is it

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for lift and escalator maintenance workers was developed by the Tripartite Cluster for Lift and Escalator Industry (TCLE).

Since 1 May 2019, the Government has taken the lead to procure lift maintenance services only from firms that have adopted the lift PWM. The Government is working towards mandating PWM adoption as a registration requirement for lift and escalator maintenance firms in 2022.

Who it covers

The PWM requirements would cover all Singapore citizens and permanent residents employed in lift and escalator maintenance jobs by lift and escalator companies.

Employers are encouraged to adopt the PWM’s principles for their foreign and in-house lift and escalator maintenance workers, upgrade their skills and implement productivity-based wage progression pathways.

Wage requirements

The lift and escalator PWM is a 5-level career progression model. It features progressive wages set at each level. This ensures that lift and escalator maintenance workers are paid wages that are commensurate with their skills and productivity.

In July 2021, the Government has accepted TCLE’s recommendations for a six-year schedule of sustained wage increase from 2023 to 2029.

Basic wage level

Job level	July 2023	July 2024	July 2025	July 2026	July 2027	July 2028
Assistant lift and escalator (L&E) Specialist	≥ $2,075	≥ $2,300	≥ $2,525	≥ $2,750	≥ $2,915	≥ $3,080
L&E Specialist	≥ $2,460	≥ $2,670	≥ $2,880	≥ $3,090	≥ $3,280	≥ $3,470
Senior L&E Specialist	≥ $2,805	≥ $3,010	≥ $3,215	≥ $3,420	≥ $3,620	≥ $3,820
L&E Supervisor	≥ $3,015	≥ $3,230	≥ $3,445	≥ $3,660	≥ $3,875	≥ $4,090
Principal L&E Specialist	≥ $3,330	≥ $3,460	≥ $3,590	≥ $3,720	≥ $3,935	≥ $4,150

Employees can check their salary information, job details, and if employers are paying them the correct wages using the Progressive Wage Portal (PW Portal).

Training requirements

To ensure high standards of maintenance, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is working towards mandating lift and escalator maintenance workers to obtain qualifications as the Commissioner of Building Control may require, before they are allowed to maintain lifts independently.

To improve the lift and escalator service industry through upskilling of the workforce, BCA and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have also been working closely on developing and rolling out the various certification courses in alignment with the Technical Skills and Competencies (TSC) framework to support the lift and escalator PWM.

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