Last Thursday (December 7), the government has announced the latest updates on the compulsory bonus and wage increase under the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) developed by the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC), as shared in a report by Gov.sg.
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Put into effect since September 1, 2015, cleaning companies must comply with the PWM wage and training requirements for cleaners who are Singapore citizens or Permanent residents (PRs). The PWM is enclosed under the Cleaning Business Scheme sanctioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Cleaning companies are expected to comply with the scheme as part of the requirements for their business license renewal.
Gov’t Approves Cleaners’ Annual Bonus and Pay Raise
The TCC was set up back in 2012 to develop a Progressive Wage Model for the sanitation industry, and to help low-wage workers in the cleaning sector receive sustainable wage increases.
Through the PWM scheme, employers are encouraged to integrate the principles of progressive wages into the wage structure of foreign cleaners.
The Wage structure is divided into three (3) categories of cleaning jobs:
Group 1: Office and commercial buildings (i.e. office, schools, hospitals, and polyclinics)
Group 2: Food and Beverage (F&B) Establishments (i.e. hawker centres and food courts)
Group 3: Conservancy centres (i.e. town councils and public cleansing)
The above categories are based on the most common types of cleaning jobs as determined by the NEA’s classification of cleaning sub-sectors under the Enhanced Clean Mark Accreditation Scheme.
The model details salary progression, as well as skills enhancement training.
Through this initiative, the median basic and the gross wages of full-time cleaners increased by 9 percent and 12 percent yearly from 2012 to 2015.
It’s good to note that despite having no minimal wage in the country, the government, through the NEA and MOM, is actively supporting its workers in the cleaning and sanitation industry. This is an important aspect which helps contribute in the cleanliness and overall image of Singapore as a country.