Written Answer by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on Wage Increase Component for Low-income Earners

Mr Png Eng Huat: To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower of the estimated 151,000 full-time resident workers earning $1,000 or below in basic monthly income from work in June 2012, what percentage of these workers receive the full built-in wage increase of $50 recommended by the NWC in 2012.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin:

1. In mid 2012, the National Wages Council recommended that for workers earning a basic monthly salary of up to $1,000, companies grant a built-in wage increase of at least $50. The Ministry’s Survey on Annual Wage Changes showed that as of December 2012, 6 in 10 private establishments with employees earning a basic monthly salary of up to $1,000, had given or decided to give wage increases to these employees. This included 3 in 10 which gave at least a $50 built-in wage increase to this group of workers.
2. The same survey found that 35% of full-time resident employees earning basic monthly salary of up to $1,000 who had been with the private establishments for at least one year, received built-in wage increase of at least $50.