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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

Under the PWM, employers must:

  • Pay at least the PWM wage to eligible workers for their job level.
  • Meet the PWM training requirements for eligible workers.

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

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

Workers benefit from clear career pathways with wage growth, training and improvements in productivity and standards.

Businesses benefit from higher productivity.

Consumers enjoy better service standards and quality.

Click here for a graphic overview of the PWM.

Who it covers

The PWM covers Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents working full-time or part-time under a contract of service.

Employers hiring foreign employees on a Work Permit, S Pass or Employment Pass must comply with both of the following requirements to renew existing work passes or apply for new work passes:

  • PWM requirements for local employees covered by the respective PWMs
  • Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) requirements for all other local employees

PWMs currently in effect

Sectoral / Occupational PWs PWM requirements took effect from
Cleaning sector
  • Extension to in-house cleaners
 1 September 2014
1 September 2022
Security sector
  • Extension to in-house security officers
 1 September 2016
1 September 2022
Landscape sector
  • Extension to in-house landscape maintenance employees
 30 June 2016
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
Waste management sector 1 July 2023

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

How it is implemented

Sector Regulated by
  • Cleaning
  • Waste Management
 Licensing condition by NEA
  • Security
 Licensing condition by PLRD (SPF)
  • Landscape
 Landscape Company Register requirements
  • Lift and escalator
 Contractor registration requirement by BCA
  • Retail
  • Food Services
  • Occupational PWs for administrators and drivers
  • In-house cleaners, security officers, and landscape maintenance employees
 Requirements to renew or apply for Work Passes

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.

Help for employees

If you are an employee covered under the PWM, and not sure if your employer is paying you according to the PWM, you should approach your employer to seek clarification on your wage, occupation and hours of work.

Should there be disagreements over wages or job classifications, you should approach your unions, if applicable, or email us at mom_lrwd@mom.gov.sg for further assistance.

You can also check if your employers are paying you the correct wages using the Progressive Wage Portal (PW Portal).