The Tripartite Cluster for Landscape Industry (TCL) launched the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for the landscape industry today, as part of its efforts to attract and retain manpower in the landscape industry. The event, held at Gardens by the Bay, was graced by NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say.
The landscape industry continues to face operational and manpower challenges such as low basic wages, low productivity, high turnover of workers and unattractive working conditions due to the laborious nature of work. The prevalence of price-based contracting, where service providers may depress wages in order to bid for contracts at the lowest price, has also made it difficult to address these challenges.
The TCL has been in discussion since April 2014 to develop a PWM for the landscape industry that would provide a pathway for landscape workers to progress with training and improvements in productivity and standards. Aside from one-on-one engagement sessions and dialogues, the TCL conducted a focus group discussion on 25 September 2014 to gather feedback from landscape companies on the possible implementation of PWM in the industry. 58 participants from 45 landscape companies participated in the discussions.
These engagements have enriched the TCL’s understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by companies and workers in the industry.
Recommendations by TCL
Progressive Wage Model
The TCL has since completed its review and recommends the implementation of PWM in the landscape maintenance sector of the landscape industry. While the TCL understands that there are three landscape sub-sectors with rank-and-file workers, the TCL has assessed that a PWM for the landscape maintenance sub-sector would cover most outsourced resident landscape workers.
There are four key components in the PWM: salary progression, skills upgrading, career advancement and productivity improvements. The proposed PWM for the landscape maintenance sub-sector is shown in diagram 1.
Diagram 1: Progressive Wage Model for the Landscape Industry
The different levels take into consideration the level of responsibilities each landscape worker has to take on. The recommended entry-level monthly basic wage for a landscape worker is $1,300 and increases as a worker becomes better skilled, more productive and takes on higher responsibilities.
The TCL has also taken into account the National Wages Council (NWC)’s 2014/2015 guidelines in its recommendations.
To ensure that these changes are implemented consistently across the industry, the TCL recommends that the PWM for the landscape industry be included in mid-2016 as a mandatory condition for companies that wish to be registered under the Landscape Company Register (LCR) administered by the National Parks Board (NParks).
About 3,000 resident landscape maintenance workers stand to benefit from the PWM.
Performance-based contracts and use of technology
The TCL strongly recommends that service providers and service buyers work together to establish performance-based contracts, improve and redesign job processes, implement efficient manpower deployment and invest significantly in technology and productivity enhancements.
There are several schemes in place by Government agencies such as NParks and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, and the Devan Nair Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to assist companies in embarking on the PWM and productivity improvements. The TCL urges all stakeholders to make full use of these resources.
Better jobs, better workers, higher quality services
Introducing the PWM in the landscape industry is a step forward in uplifting the industry’s image and professionalism. The PWM gives landscape workers a clearer career progression pathway and will allow them to earn higher wages commensurate with improved training, better skill sets, higher standards and higher productivity.
Under the PWM, landscaping workers would be required to fulfil specific training requirements based on the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications for Landscape (Landscape WSQ), which in turn will lead to a skilled workforce. This will further aid landscaping companies to compete based on value and performance instead of price. As for service buyers, they can be assured of higher quality services with better skilled workers. With all these in place, the landscape industry will be better placed to attract and retain quality manpower to meet its growing needs.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Zainal Sapari, who is also Chairman of the TCL, said, “The PWM for the landscape industry will complement existing programmes that are already in place to raise skills and standards of the industry. As we take further steps to push for higher wages and better career prospects for our landscape workers, we hope to make landscaping a viable career option for jobseekers, and a rewarding one as well.”
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