Paving The Way For Licensing In The Cleaning Sector

The Environmental Public Health Amendment Bill came into force on 1 April 2014 – requiring all general cleaning businesses in Singapore to be licensed before 1 September 2014.

This will lead to higher standards of employment across the cleaning industry, more professional and reliable services, and ensure cleaners are paid according to the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) advocated by the Labour Movement.

Following feedback from industry stakeholders, the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC) announced revisions to its recommendations for a progressive wage structure for the cleaning sector on 25 April 2014. These were based on feedback from cleaning service providers through various focus group discussions, briefing sessions and consultations.

Changes to TCC recommendation

a) Introduction of Guiding Principle

• As a guiding principle, workers whose job responsibilities fall into more than one job category shall be deemed to be in the job category that he spends a majority of his time in, and thus, the corresponding wage level applies.

b) Revisions to Progressive Wage Model for Cleaning Industry

• “Out-Patient” and “In-Patient” cleaners now classified under “Healthcare Cleaners”.


• “Multi-Skilled Cleaners” and “Machine Operators” will be combined 
under one new category called “Multi-Skilled Cleaners cum Machine 
Operators”.


• “Class 3 Mechanical Drivers” will now just be classified as “Mechanical Drivers”.

c) Revised definitions of cleaning job types

• Modification of existing definitions


• Inclusion of definition for cleaning jobs referred to in the PWM

Cleaning businesses can find details and clarifications of the above changes and a list of frequently asked questions on NTUC U Portal (http://bit.ly/TripartiteClusterforCleaners) and in the Addendum of the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners Report.

In light of the recommendations, the Labour Movement has been working closely with tripartite partners to help companies ease into the new licensing regime, which will benefit an estimated 55,000 resident cleaners. 

The TCC highlighted some of its ongoing outreach efforts:

Stage 1: Preparing Cleaning Service Buyers and Service Providers

• 12 briefing sessions attended by 161 service buyers and 320 providers


• Working with the National Environment Agency (NEA), who is a member of the TCC by providing licensing information to cleaning service buyers and providers via a leaflet. Information on the leaflet can be found on the NEA website at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/cleaningbusinesslicence

Stage 2: Reaching out to Cleaners

• Creating information kits to highlight TCC recommendation’s defined job scopes, skills level required for each role as well as corresponding wage level which will be distributed to U Care members and union members who are cleaners as well as cleaners who attend NTUC U Care Centre’s outreach events


• Cleaners who have queries may call the NTUC U Care Centre at 1800-225-2828

Stage 3: Educating the Public

• Educating the public who can act as whistleblowers against companies who do not comply with the licensing by leveraging on social media platforms such as websites of the respective tripartite partners

Aside from that, the Labour Movement is heartened to know that companies are implementing the PWM even before licensing kicks-in. In a recent survey conducted by the Building Construction And Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU), 6,690 cleaners from 32 unionised cleaning companies have benefitted even before the licensing legislation. This comprises 67% of all cleaners who are union members under BATU, which has 48 unionised cleaning companies.