Singapore Government accepts new progressive wage model recommendations for waste management workers

25 February 2022

On 24 January 2022, the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”) announced that the Singapore Government has accepted the recommendations of the Tripartite Cluster for Waste Management (“TCWM”) which seek to ensure significant and sustainable wage growth, as well as clear training and career progression pathways, to benefit up to 3,000 resident waste management workers.

The following is a summary of the recommendations accepted by the Singapore Government:

  • Career progression pathways for waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors: TCWM recommends separate career ladders for the Waste Collection and Materials Recovery sub-sectors as part of the new Waste Management progressive wage model (“PWM”). This will provide workers with clear pathways to higher wages, better skills, and increased job responsibilities.
  • Mandatory Workforce Skills Qualification (“WSQ”) training requirements: TCWM recommends increasing productivity and upskilling workers through setting mandatory training requirements. The training requirements will provide waste management workers with the knowledge and skills to carry out their work safely and efficiently. Under the new recommendations, entry-level workers will need to obtain a minimum of two WSQ training modules, with higher number of WSQ modules for higher-level job roles. Waste management firms are recommended to ensure that their workers attain the training requirements by 1 July 2023.
  • Six-year schedule of sustained wage increases: The Government accepts the six-year schedule of sustained PWM wages, which will take effect from
    1 July 2023, with a review scheduled for 2025. The recommended PWM wage schedule translates to a growth rate of 48% over the six-year period, and is consistent with the guidance by the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers (“TWG-LWW”) to ensure lower-wage workers have meaningful and sustained wage growth to gain ground with the median worker.
  • Mandatory annual PWM bonus: TCWM recommends implementing a mandatory annual PWM bonus for eligible waste management workers from January 2024. This will enable employers to better attract and retain waste management workers, and complement their efforts to invest in their workers’ training to enhance productivity.

Waste management workers provide essential services that keep Singapore clean. It is vital to continue to support the waste management industry in creating a more skilled and productive workforce, with more attractive careers for its workers.

Reference materials

The following materials are available from the MOM website www.mom.gov.sg: