Companies must meet the Progressive Wage Model wage and training requirements for waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
What is it
The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors was developed by the Tripartite Cluster for Waste Management (TCWM).
From 1 July 2023, all public waste collectors, general waste collectors, and general waste disposal facility licensees must meet the PWM requirements as part of National Environment Agency’s (NEA) licensing framework.
Who it covers
The PWM requirements:
- Are mandatory
- Cover all Singapore citizens and permanent residents employed as waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors, who work in licensed general waste collectors, public waste collectors, or general waste disposal facilities.
The waste management PWM will cover the following waste management job roles in the waste collection and materials recovery subsectors.
A person assigned to provide waste and recyclables collection services as directed, handle tools and equipment and incidents.
A person assigned to provide waste and recyclables collection services without or with minimal supervision. They will also handle tools and equipment and incidents.
A person assigned to provide waste and recyclables collection services when required, mentor new crews and conduct on-the-job training.
A person assigned to assist in managing waste and recyclables collection services, inventory, equipment and maintenance schedule, and teams and incidents.
A person assigned to carry out waste collection services from site to disposal facilities as directed. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, and incidents.
A Driver operates vehicles such as the Rear End Loader or Hooklift truck, requiring a Class 4 driving licence or above.
A Crew, Senior crew or Team lead may be deployed as a Driver, provided that the worker holds at least a Class 4 driving licence and have met the role’s training requirements.
A person assigned to carry out waste collection services from site to disposal facilities without or with minimal supervision. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, incidents and lead, supervise and guide or mentor new drivers.
A person assigned to assist in managing waste collection services, inventory, equipment, and maintenance schedules, and mentor new drivers. They will have to carry out waste collection services when required, manage incidents which include resolving reports from Drivers or Senior drivers.
The Captain is able to drive more than 1 type of trucks. The Captain’s wage is left to market forces.
A person assigned to perform waste recycling and materials recovery operations as directed. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, and incidents.
A person assigned to perform waste recycling and materials recovery operations without or with minimal supervision and guide new sorters on the job. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, and incidents.
A person assigned to handle heavy machineries and equipment at disposal facility, such as operating forklifts or heavy machinery.
A person assigned to perform waste recycling and materials recovery operations when necessary, mentor new sorters, and conduct on the job training. They will handle heavy machineries and equipment when necessary, and incidents.
A person assigned to assist in managing waste recycling materials recovery operations at disposal facility, inventory, equipment and maintenance schedule, teams and incidents.
Find out more on the coverage of waste management job roles and descriptions of duties and responsibilities in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors.
Wage requirements
The waste management PWM for waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors is a four-level career progression model. It features:
- Specific training requirements that tap on the Skills Framework for Environmental Services, which covers the waste management industry. This ensures that waste management workers are equipped with the skills needed to carry out their job functions.
- Progressive wages set at each level to ensure that waste management workers are paid wages that are commensurate with their skills and productivity.
The wage requirements recommended in the TCWM’s report will take effect from 1 July 2023.
With effect from January 2024, a PWM Bonus of at least 1 month of basic monthly wages is payable to eligible waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors in licensed general waste collectors, public waste collectors, or general waste disposal facilities every year.
Wage and PWM Bonus for part-time workers will be pro-rated.
The TCWM will undertake a review of the wage schedule in 2025.
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time waste collection sub-sector workers (35-44 hours a week) |
| From 1 July 2023 |
|
Crew
|
≥ $2,210 |
|
Senior crew
|
≥ $2,410 |
|
Team lead
|
≥ $2,610 |
|
Supervisor
|
≥ $2,860 |
|
Driver
|
≥ $2,610 |
|
Hooklift driver
|
≥ $2,710 |
|
Senior driver
|
≥ $2,910 |
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time waste collection sub-sector workers (35-44 hours a week) |
| From 1 July 2024 |
From 1 July 2025 |
From 1 July 2026 |
From 1 July 2027 |
From 1 July 2028 |
| Crew |
≥ $2,420 |
≥ $2,630 |
≥ $2,840 |
≥ $3,050 |
≥ $3,260 |
| Senior Crew |
≥ $2,620 |
≥ $2,830 |
≥ $3,040 |
≥ $3,250 |
≥ $3,460 |
| Team lead |
≥ $2,820 |
≥ $3,030 |
≥ $3,240 |
≥ $3,450 |
≥ $3,660 |
| Supervisor |
≥ $3,070 |
≥ $3,280 |
≥ $3,490 |
≥ $3,700 |
≥ $3,910 |
| Driver |
≥ $2,820 |
≥ $3,030 |
≥ $3,240 |
≥ $3,450 |
≥ $3,660 |
| Hooklift driver |
≥ $2,920 |
≥ $3,130 |
≥ $3,340 |
≥ $3,550 |
≥ $3,760 |
| Senior driver |
≥ $3,120 |
≥ $3,330 |
≥ $3,540 |
≥ $3,750 |
≥ $3,960 |
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time materials recovery sub-sector workers (35-44 hours a week) |
| From 1 July 2023 |
|
Sorter
|
≥ $2,110 |
|
Senior
sorter /
Machine operator
|
≥ $2,310 |
|
Team lead
|
≥ $2,510 |
|
Plant supervisor
|
≥ $2,710 |
| Job level |
Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time materials recovery sub-sector workers (35-44 hours a week) |
| From 1 July 2024 |
From 1 July 2025 |
From 1 July 2026 |
From 1 July 2027 |
From 1 July 2028 |
|
Sorter
|
≥ $2,320 |
≥ $2,530 |
≥ $2,740 |
≥ $2,950 |
≥ $3,160 |
|
Senior
sorter /
Machine operator
|
≥ $2,520 |
≥ $2,730 |
≥ $2,940 |
≥ $3,150 |
≥ $3,360 |
| Team lead |
≥ $2,720 |
≥ $2,930 |
≥ $3,140 |
≥ $3,350 |
≥ $3,560 |
|
Plant supervisor
|
≥ $2,920 |
≥ $3,130 |
≥ $3,340 |
≥ $3,550 |
≥ $3,760 |
Total monthly gross wage (for full-time work of 35-44 hours per week) refers to the sum of:
- Basic wage
- Allowances, e.g. travel, food, and housing
- Productivity incentive payments
It excludes:
- Bonuses, e.g. 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
For full-time workers who work more than 44 hours a week and are covered by the Employment Act's Part 4, employers would need to adhere to additional PWM gross wage requirements for overtime.
In addition to meeting the PWM requirements for overtime, employers would need to adhere to the Employment Act’s Part 4 requirements for overtime, where the overtime rate of pay must be at least 1.5 times of the basic rate of pay. The overtime rate of pay refers to the minimum hourly pay for each additional hour worked more than 44 hours a week.
Training requirements
Employers must ensure that their Singapore citizen and PR waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors meet the waste management PWM training requirements:
- For Crew and Sorter: At least 2 Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Statement of Attainment, out of the list of approved WSQ training modules.
- For higher job levels: Additional WSQ Statement of Attainment out of the list of approved WSQ training modules, depending on the job level.
For more detail on the training requirements and the list of approved WSQ training modules, please see Annex C of the TCWM Report.
Find out more
For more information: