Model ID: 0583f0ae-88c3-4b26-ac53-a33dc87c2179
Sitecore Context Id: 0583f0ae-88c3-4b26-ac53-a33dc87c2179;
~ Tripartite Cluster’s latest recommendations include the extension of the PWM to cover escalator maintenance workers, a mandatory PWM Bonus and a six-year schedule of wage increases ~
The Tripartite Cluster for Lift & Escalator (TCLE) has conducted a review of the Lift & Escalator (L&E) Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to ensure its relevance in uplifting and transforming the L&E industry. As Singapore continues to grow its infrastructure to support the nation’s economic growth, and provide housing and recreational areas to live, work and play, the demand for L&E maintenance is expected to increase in the coming years. It is therefore critical for the industry to be able to meet the higher demand with a strong and skilled L&E workforce .
Following several rounds of discussions with key stakeholders, key recommendations by the TCLE include:
i. Extending the existing Lift PWM to cover escalator maintenance workers
ii. Setting a six-year schedule of wage increase to the L&E PWM baseline wages from 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2029 for both lift and escalator maintenance workers
iii. Provision of a mandatory PWM Bonus
The wage review for the L&E PWM also takes reference from the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers’ (TWG-LWW) objective to ensure wage growth would help to narrow the income gap with the average worker.
Existing PWM Transitional Wage Benchmark Announced in 2018
Today’s announcement for the L&E industry builds on the existing PWM Transitional Wage Benchmark agreed upon in 2018 which maps a schedule of transitional wage benchmarks from 2020 to 2022 for L&E firms applying to be listed under BCA’s Contractors Registration System ME09 workhead. Details are as follows:
|
PWM Job Level
|
Minimum Basic Monthly Wages
|
|
By 1 July 2020
|
By 1 July 2021
|
By 1 July 2022
|
|
Assistant Specialist
|
$1,300
|
$1,480
|
$1,850
|
|
Specialist
|
$1,580
|
$1,800
|
$2,250
|
|
Senior Specialist
|
$1,820
|
$2,080
|
$2,600
|
|
Supervisor
|
$1,960
|
$2,240
|
$2,800
|
|
Principal Specialist
|
$2,240
|
$2,560
|
$3,200
|
Key Recommendation 1: Extending Lift PWM to Cover Escalator Maintenance Workers
In its latest report, the TCLE recommends that the PWM be extended to cover escalator maintenance workers as many workers under the Lift PWM are deployed to maintain both lifts and escalators.
In addition, the TCLE agrees to adopt the same Career Ladder and Wage Ladder for both L&E maintenance workers for clarity of progression and parity between both roles. However, as the mechanical and electrical components of lifts and escalators differ, the TCLE recommends that the Skills Ladder for escalator maintenance workers be customised to ensure that they receive the appropriate training.
Key Recommendation 2: Uplifting Wages and Work Prospects of Lift & Escalator Maintenance Workers
To ensure that wages continue to commensurate with skills, the TCLE recommends a six-year schedule of wage increases that will see base wages across all job levels increase year-on-year from 2023 to 2028. In setting the baseline PWM wages, the TCLE had considered the current median wages of the resident L&E maintenance workers as well as took reference from other similar occupations.
From 2022 to 2023, the base wages of Assistant L&E Specialists will increase to $2,075, up from $1,850 in 2022. Wages for entry-level Assistant L&E Specialists will see a base-wage increase of about 66 per cent cumulatively from 2022 to 2028. This is a year-on-year base wage increase of close to 9 per cent for entry-level Assistant L&E Specialists. The PWM Baseline Wage refers to monthly basic wage paid to a full-time resident employee and excludes overtime pay and other payments . Details of the wage adjustments are as follows:
|
PWM Baseline Wage Floor
(Monthly Basic Salary excluding overtime pay and other payments)
|
CAGR*
|
|
PWM Job Level
|
2022
|
Effective from 1st July each year
|
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
2026
|
2027
|
2028
|
|
Assistant L&E Specialist
|
$1,850
|
+ $225
|
+ $225
|
+ $225
|
+ $225
|
+ $165
|
+ $165
|
8.9%
|
|
$2,075
|
$2,300
|
$2,525
|
$2,750
|
$2,915
|
$3,080
|
|
L&E Specialist
|
$2,250
|
+ $210
|
+ $210
|
+ $210
|
+ $210
|
+ $190
|
+ $190
|
7.5%
|
|
$2,460
|
$2,670
|
$2,880
|
$3,090
|
$3,280
|
$3,470
|
|
Senior L&E Specialist
|
$2,600
|
+ $205
|
+ $205
|
+ $205
|
+ $205
|
+ $200
|
+ $200
|
6.6%
|
|
$2,805
|
$3,010
|
$3,215
|
$3,420
|
$3,620
|
$3,820
|
|
L&E Supervisor
|
$2,800
|
+ $215
|
+ $215
|
+ $215
|
+ $215
|
+ $215
|
+ $215
|
6.5%
|
|
$3,015
|
$3,230
|
$3,445
|
$3,660
|
$3,875
|
$4,090
|
|
Principal L&E Specialist
|
$3,200
|
+ $130
|
+ $130
|
+ $130
|
+ $130
|
+ $215
|
+ $215
|
4.4%
|
|
$3,330
|
$3,460
|
$3,590
|
$3,720
|
$3,935
|
$4,150
|
* Compound annual growth rate
Key Recommendation 3: Better Incentives for Lift & Escalator Maintenance Workers
In addition to the wage increments, the TCLE also recommends a mandatory annual bonus, termed as “PWM Bonus” to be paid to eligible resident L&E maintenance workers, with effect from January 2023.
As workers must have worked with their existing employers for at least 12 months to be eligible for the PWM Bonus, the PWM Bonus will enable employers to better attract and retain workers. This in turn encourages employers to invest in workers’ training which will lead to enhanced productivity. The PWM Bonus total quantum each year must be no less than one month of the worker’s prevailing basic monthly wage.
Mr Zainal Sapari, NTUC Assistant Director-General and Chairman of the TCLE, said, “Like many other essential service workers, our L&E maintenance workers have specialised skill sets to ensure the smooth running of our lifts and escalators, without which we will all be greatly inconvenienced. The value of L&E maintenance work must therefore be recognised accordingly. In line with our continued efforts to uplift and transform the L&E sector and build a strong Singapore Core, I urge all service buyers and providers to support training efforts to improve the skill sets and competencies of workers in this industry for them to have better and sustainable wage increases over time through better productivity. This will be a necessary step to help the L&E maintenance workers have better wages, welfare and work prospects.”
More details of the above recommendations can be found in the TCLE Report.
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