Companies must meet the Occupational Progressive Wages and training requirements for administrators and drivers who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
What is it
Occupational Progressive Wages (OPW) for administrators and drivers were developed by the National Wages Council (NWC). They feature:
- Training requirements to ensure that workers have the skills they need to carry out their jobs.
- Progressive wages set at each level. This ensures that workers are paid wages that correspond to their skills and productivity.
Employers must meet the OPW requirements to renew existing work passes or apply for new work passes.
Who it covers
The OPW requirements cover all Singapore citizens and permanent residents who are full-time or part-time employees in administrative or driving roles on a contract of service and employed by firms which employ foreign workers.
OPW will cover the following administrative and driving roles:
Administrators
Responsibilities:
- Supervise staff performing administrative or clerical roles such as general administration, customer service, records management, and data analysis
- Managing personnel, resolving work problems and coordinating work between units within an organisation
Examples of jobs covered:
Responsibilities include performing administrative tasks such as:
- Accounting, bookkeeping and money handling
- Customer facing tasks such as answering and directing phone calls, providing client information and services
- Management of records such as maintaining and updating filing and inventory
- Secretarial tasks such as arranging appointments, organising meetings
- Preparing production schedules
Examples of jobs covered:
- General office clerk, customer service clerk, stock clerk, transport clerk, statistical clerk, legal clerk, accounting and bookkeeping clerk, production clerk, computer operations clerk, postal service counter clerk, finance and insurance clerk, travel agency clerk, proofreading clerk
- Office cashier, bank cashier
- Receptionist
- Telephone operator
- Secretary
- Verbatim reporter
- Typist and word processing operator
- Concierge
Responsibilities include performing basic administrative tasks such as:
- Running of errands
- Data entry
- Receiving and registering documents
- Sorting and storing of files
Examples of jobs covered:
- Office attendant
- Data entry clerk, library clerk
Responsibilities of an Administrative Supervisor or equivalent role include:
- Supervise staff performing administrative or clerical roles such as general administration, customer service, records management, and data analysis
- Maintain good housekeeping at the workplace such as administering Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) standards
- Perform on-the-job coaching
- Managing personnel, resolving work problems, and coordinating work between units within an organisation
- Manage customer feedback and ensure close follow-up on resolutions
- Use of complex digital tools to optimise workflows, provide feedback on digital or technology-enabled systems, manage complex chatbot systems or solutions to resolve customer's request
Responsibilities of an Administrative Executive or equivalent role include the administrative tasks of an Admin Assistant as well as other more complex duties that involve a higher level of responsibility, autonomy or specialised knowledge such as:
- Process business transactions and reports using digital tools or systems
- Process invoices, payments, claims, monies, settlements
- Maintain accurate records and statements to support business activities such as financial records, sales transactions
- Handle and manage customer feedback, requests and enquiries and ensure proper follow up
- Secretarial tasks such as arranging appointments, organising meetings, maintain confidential documents or records
- Preparing production schedules and coordinate deployment of resources
- Analysing and providing insights from data or records
- Coordinate procurement and liaise with vendors or suppliers
- Use digital tools to optimise workflows of repetitive tasks
Responsibilities of an Administrative Assistant or equivalent role include performing administrative tasks such as:
- Enter information accurately into data collection or inventory management systems
- Report operational abnormalities to the appropriate persons
- Respond to incidents and emergencies as directed
- Receive and register documents
- Sort, file and store documents
- Run errands as directed
Managerial staff whose job duties do not match the respective job rungs are not covered under OPW for administrators.
Drivers
Responsibilities:
- Operating vehicles requiring Class 4 driving licence and above such as lorries, trailer trucks, and buses, and other specialised driver roles like chauffeurs
Examples of jobs covered:
- Trailer truck drivers
- Bus drivers
- Lorry drivers
- Chauffeurs
- Concrete mix truck drivers
Responsibilities:
- Operating vehicles requiring Class 3 driving licence or below such as motorcycles, cars, vans, and trams
Examples of jobs covered:
- Motorcycle delivery drivers
- Van drivers
- Tram drivers
| Level |
Description |
| 2 |
A driver carrying out the tasks of a Level 1 Driver and fulfilling additional duties involving one or more of the following:
- Performs higher-value activities with some scope to exercise initiative such as crowd management, CPR, handling hazardous materials, cold chain management, chauffeuring services
- Mentoring and training other drivers
- Route planning
- Attain requisite certification should the job require to meet operational or regulatory requirements
|
| 1 |
A driver assigned to operate vehicles requiring a Class 3 or below driving licence.
Duties may include:
- Inspect and ensure vehicle is in good operating condition
- Execute transportation operation schedules and ensure timelines are adhered to
- Interface with customers at collection or pick-up points and destinations
- Maintain and update logs, records or documentation
- Uphold safety and/or security standards
- Report occurrence of incidents or accidents to the appropriate persons
|
| Level |
Description |
| 2 |
A driver assigned to operate vehicles requiring a Class 4A or 5 driving licence, or vehicles requiring a Class 4 licence and fulfilling additional duties involving one or more of the following:
- Performs higher-value activities with some scope to exercise initiative such as crowd management, CPR, handling hazardous materials, cold chain management
- Mentoring and training other drivers
- Route planning
- Attain requisite certification should the job require to meet operational or regulatory requirements
|
| 1 |
A driver assigned to operate vehicles requiring a Class 4 driving licence.
Duties may include:
- Inspect and ensure vehicle is in good operating condition
- Execute transportation operation schedules and ensure timelines are adhered to
- Interface with customers at collection or pick-up points and destinations
- Maintain and update logs, records or documentation
- Uphold safety or security standards
- Report occurrence of incidents or accidents to the appropriate persons
|
Wage requirements
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time administrators (35-44 hours per week, assuming no overtime worked) |
1 Jul 2024 -
30 Jun 2025 |
1 Jul 2025 -
30 Jun 2026 |
1 Jul 2026 -
30 Jun 2027 |
1 Jul 2027 -
30 Jun 2028 |
|
Administrative supervisor
|
≥ $2,980 |
≥ $3,160 |
≥ $3,340 |
≥ $3,520 |
|

Administrative executive
|
≥ $2,390 |
≥ $2,580 |
≥ $2,760 |
≥ $2,940 |
|

Administrative assistant
|
≥ $1,800 |
≥ $1,980 |
≥ $2,170 |
≥ $2,360 |
| Job level |
Hourly gross wage requirements for part-time administrators |
1 Jul 2024 -
30 Jun 2025 |
1 Jul 2025 -
30 Jun 2026 |
1 Jul 2026 -
30 Jun 2027 |
1 Jul 2027 -
30 Jun 2028 |
|
Administrative supervisor
|
≥ $15.63 |
≥ $16.57 |
≥ $17.52 |
≥ $18.46 |
|

Administrative executive
|
≥ $12.53 |
≥ $13.53 |
≥ $14.48 |
≥ $15.42 |
|

Administrative assistant
|
≥ $9.44 |
≥ $10.38 |
≥ $11.38 |
≥ $12.38 |
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time drivers (35-44 hours per week, assuming no overtime worked) |
1 Mar 2023 -
30 Jun 2024 |
1 Jul 2024 -
30 Jun 2025 |
1 Jul 2025 -
30 Jun 2026 |
|
Specialised driver
|
≥ $1,850 |
≥ $2,085 |
≥ $2,320 |
|

General driver
|
≥ $1,750 |
≥ $1,970 |
≥ $2,190 |
| Job level |
Hourly gross wage requirements for part-time drivers |
1 Mar 2023 -
30 Jun 2024 |
1 Jul 2024 -
30 Jun 2025 |
1 Jul 2025 -
30 Jun 2026 |
|
Specialised driver
|
≥ $9.70 |
≥ $10.94 |
≥ $12.17 |
|

General driver
|
≥ $9.18 |
≥ $10.33 |
≥ $11.49 |
Group A: Drivers with Class 3 or below licence
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time drivers (35-44 hours per week assuming no overtime worked) |
1 Jul 2026 -
30 Jun 2027 |
1 Jul 2027 -
30 Jun 2028 |
| Group A Level 2 Driver |
≥ $2,485 |
≥ $2,665 |
|

Group A Level 1 Driver
|
≥ $2,370 |
≥ $2,550 |
| Job level |
Hourly gross wage requirements for part-time drivers |
1 Jul 2026 -
30 Jun 2027 |
1 Jul 2027 -
30 Jun 2028 |
| Group A Level 2 Driver |
≥ $13.03 |
≥ $13.98 |
|

Group A Level 1 Driver
|
≥ $12.43 |
≥ $13.37 |
Group B: Drivers with Class 4 or above licence
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time drivers (35-44 hours per week assuming no overtime worked) |
1 Jul 2026 -
30 Jun 2027 |
1 Jul 2027 -
30 Jun 2028 |
| Group B Level 2 Driver |
≥ $2,555 |
≥ $2,790 |
|

Group B Level 1 Driver
|
≥ $2,505 |
≥ $2,690 |
| Job level |
Hourly gross wage requirements for part-time drivers |
1 Jul 2026 -
30 Jun 2027 |
1 Jul 2027 -
30 Jun 2028 |
| Group B Level 2 Driver |
≥ $13.40 |
≥ $14.63 |
|

Group B Level 1 Driver
|
≥ $13.14 |
≥ $14.11 |
Total monthly gross wage for full-time work of 35-44 hours per week refers to the sum of:
- Basic wage
- Allowances such as travel, food, and housing
- Productivity incentive payments
It does not include:
- Bonuses including Annual Wage Supplement
- Stock options
- Reimbursement of special expenses incurred in the course of employment
- Payments-in-kind
- Employer CPF contributions
Additional PWM gross wage requirements for overtime
Employers must meet additional requirements for full-time employees who fulfil both of the following conditions:
Employers must pay these employees according to both of the following conditions:
- An overtime rate of pay at least 1.5 times the basic rate of pay, according to overtime requirements under Part 4 of the Employment Act.
- A monthly gross wage of at least the OPW gross wage requirements for overtime hours before 1 July 2026 and from 1 July 2026.
Training requirements
Employers must ensure that their Singapore citizen and permanent resident administrators and drivers meet the following training requirements:
- At least 1 Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Statement of Attainment, with no restriction on which WSQ course can be taken; or
- An in-house training programme.
The in-house training programme must be guided by training objectives, training modality, key training tasks and training duration to meet the training requirements. When required, employers are expected to show supporting documentation on their in-house training programme and records of workers who attended the trainings.
On-the-job training can be counted towards the in-house training programme if it fulfils these requirements.
Employers will be given a grace period to comply with the OPW training requirements:
- For new hires: six months from the new hire's date of employment.
Through proper training, administrators and drivers will be able to increase their productivity and skillsets.
Find out more
For more information: