Uplifting our lower-wage workers

As a fair and inclusive society, we must accord our lower-wage workers with dignity and respect, as well as provide them with pathways to progress. This requires a whole-of-society effort, with support from the government, employers, unions, service buyers, and fellow Singaporeans.

Through the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers, we are working closely with our Tripartite Partners to enhance the well-being of our lower-wage workers, and strengthen public appreciation for their work. We are also mobilising the community through the Alliance for Action for Lower-Wage Workers, to develop ground-up initiatives on uplifting our lower-wage workers.

Find out more about our various support measures, as summarised by the 4Ws:

Progressive Wages

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) helps to increase wages of lower-wage workers through upgrading skills and improving productivity. It has been implemented in the cleaning, security, and landscape sectors. We are working with Tripartite Partners to expand PWM to more sectors in the coming years.

Workfare

Workfare is a broad-based measure comprising the following:

• Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme
  • Introduced in 2007 as a permanent feature of Singapore’s social security system
  • Rewards regular work and individual effort by supplementing salaries
  • Provides cash and CPF top-ups, helping lower-wage workers meet their expenditure needs and save for retirement
• Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Scheme
  • Formerly known as Workfare Training Support, it was enhanced in July 2020 to support lower-wage workers in undertake training that leads to more impactful outcomes
  • Helps lower-wage workers become more employable, and gives them a chance to earn more

Workcare

Introduced in 2019, Workcare aims to improve the work environments of lower-wage workers and strengthen public appreciation for the work that they do.

Progressive employers can tap on the Workcare Grant to provide new rest areas or enhance existing ones for their outsourced workers.

This is in line with recommendations in the Tripartite advisory on provision of rest areas for outsourced workers.

Workright

Launched in 2012 by MOM and CPF Board, Workright protects the employment rights of workers through public education and enforcement of the Employment Act and the CPF Act.

Read on to find out more about the employment laws:

• For employees: Guide on employment laws
• For employers: 6 simple steps to comply with employment laws

For more information

• Read the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers Report on key recommendations to uplift lower-wage workers.
• View the infographics on support for lower-wage workers for an overview of MOM’s support measures.
• Read the Factsheet on tripartite workgroup on lower-wage workers.
• Stay updated with the latest MOM-related news and announcements here, as well as our official MOM Facebook and LinkedIn pages.