Government accepts Tripartite Cluster for Food Services Industry’s Recommendations for Sustained Wage Increases from 2026 To 2028
The Government has accepted the Tripartite Cluster for Food Services Industry (TCF)’s recommendations on the Food Services Progressive Wage Model (PWM), released on 16 March 2026. The recommendations set out a three-year schedule of sustained wage increases for food services workers, from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029. Introduced on 1 March 2023, the Food Services PWM covers more than 53,000 full-time and part-time workers.
Three-Year Schedule of Sustained Wage Increases
2 From 1 July 2026, food services workers will earn at least the entry-level PWM wage requirement of $2,220, up from the existing PWM wage requirement of $2,080. From 2026 to 2028, this baseline monthly gross wage requirement will increase from $2,220 to $2,500. Food services workers can expect a year-on-year increase of up to $145 for the next three years.
3 To align with the implementation timeline for the majority of the PWM sectors1, the food services wage schedule will take effect from 1 July each year, starting from 1 July 2026. Employers who employ workers in multiple PWM sectors can streamline their administrative processes, with lead time to adjust and comply with the new food services requirements. The updated wage schedule is reflected below.
Category A – Quick Services (QS) Food Establishments & Supermarkets (with ready-to-eat food stations)
|
PWM Job Level
|
PWM Baseline Gross Wages
|
[Existing]
From 1 Mar 2025
|
[NEW]
From 1Jul
2026
|
[NEW]
From 1Jul
2027
|
[NEW]
From 1Jul
2028
|
|
Food/Drink Stall Assistant
|
Monthlya
|
$2,080
|
$2,220
|
$2,360
|
$2,500
|
|
Year-on-year increase
|
$140
|
$140
|
$140
|
|
Hourlyb
|
$10.91
|
$11.64
|
$12.38
|
$13.11
|
|
|
|
Kitchen Assistant (QS) / Food Service Counter Attendant
|
Monthlya
|
$2,155
|
$2,295
|
$2,435
|
$2,575
|
|
Year-on-year increase
|
$140
|
$140
|
$140
|
|
Hourlyb
|
$11.30
|
$12.04
|
$12.77
|
$13.51
|
|
|
|
Cook (QS)
|
Monthlya
|
$2,330
|
$2470
|
$2610
|
$2750
|
|
Year-on-year increase
|
$140
|
$140
|
$140
|
|
Hourlyb
|
$12.22
|
$12.95
|
$13.69
|
$14.42
|
Category B: Full-Service (FS) Food Establishments, Caterers and Central Kitchens
|
PWM Job Level
|
PWM Baseline Gross Wages
|
[Existing]
From 1 Mar 2025
|
[NEW]
From 1Jul
2026
|
[NEW]
From 1Jul
2027
|
[NEW]
From 1Jul
2028
|
|
Kitchen Assistant (FS)/ Waiter
|
Monthlya
|
$2,180
|
$2,320
|
$2,460
|
$2,600
|
|
Year-on-year increase
|
$140
|
$140
|
$140
|
|
Hourlyb
|
$11.43
|
$12.17
|
$12.90
|
$13.64
|
|
|
|
Cook (FS)
|
Monthlya
|
$2,380
|
$2,520
|
$2,660
|
$2,800
|
|
Year-on-year increase
|
$140
|
$140
|
$140
|
|
Hourlyb
|
$12.48
|
$13.22
|
$13.95
|
$14.69
|
|
|
|
Waiter Supervisor^
|
Monthlya
|
$2,730
|
$2,875
|
$3,020
|
$3,165
|
|
Year-on-year increase
|
$145
|
$145
|
$145
|
|
Hourlyb
|
$14.32
|
$15.08
|
$15.84
|
$16.60
|
a Monthly Gross Wage excludes overtime payments
b Hourly Gross Wage is applicable to part-time workers who work less than 35 hours a week
^ TCF recommends a slightly higher increment to account for its higher job responsibilities and complexity.
Expanded List of Training Modules and Recognition of Institutes of Higher Learning Qualifications to meet PWM Training Requirements
4
The TCF has recommended expanding the list of Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) training modules that workers can attend to meet the minimum PWM training requirement of completing two WSQ training modules
2. In addition, food services workers who hold relevant qualifications from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) and Private Education Institutions (PEIs) will also be recognised as meeting the minimum training requirements (Please refer to Annex A).
5
For more details, please refer to TCF report at
go.gov.sg/foodservices-pwm.
Enhanced Support for Workers to Upskill with the Workfare Skills Support (Level-Up)
6
Food services workers can tap on the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme, which was enhanced to provide greater support for lower-wage workers to undertake more substantial upskilling and reskilling. Under the new WSS (Level-Up), self-sponsored trainees can pursue long-form training and receive higher training allowance of up to $18,000 per year for full-time training and $3,600 per year for part-time training. Under the enhanced WSS (Basic), lower-wage workers who complete shorter courses can receive Training Allowance of $10.50 per hour from 1 July 2026. Employers who support their workers to upskill may also be eligible for Absentee Payroll.