After months of reviewing the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) in the cleaning sector, the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC) released new recommendations which were accepted by the Government on 12 December 2016.
The enhancements seek to keep the model relevant and enhance the adoption of progressive wage practices in the cleaning industry, said the TCC.
As part of the review, the TCC recommended a total increase of $200 to the PWM basic wage levels for cleaners by 2019. The new basic wage level will start with a $60 increase from 1 July 2017, and subsequently with a $60 increase in 2018 and an $80 increase in 2019.
Thereafter, employers will have to ensure an annual increase of 3 per cent to the PWM wage levels from 2020 to 2022 to allow cleaners to enjoy sustained wage growth, in line with productivity improvements and better service delivery.
With a lead time of six months until the reviewed wages are made mandatory, the TCC also called for a timely adoption of the new wage schedule for all cleaning businesses who have contracts that take effect from 1 July 2017. Businesses with existing cleaning contracts or those that take effect before 1 July 2017 will have until July 2018 to implement the reviewed wage schedule.
TCC also urged service buyers to renegotiate existing contracts to include the new PWM wages for their cleaners. They were also urged to refrain from exercising the option to extend existing contracts if they are not prepared to vary new contract prices to take into account the new wages.
Annual Bonus
Service providers will also have to pay an annual bonus equivalent to two weeks of basic monthly wages to their cleaners from 2020 to 2022.
The cluster said that will enable employers better attract and retain their workers and help uplift workers’ total income.
“With better retention rates, employers will be more incentivised to train their workers, while workers will be more motivated to stay longer in the same companies when there are more training and upgrading opportunities,” said the TCC.
Other Recommendations
TCC also encouraged employers to adopt a salary range between wage levels to reward cleaners who perform better.
Touching on the latest enhancements, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and TCC Chairman Zainal Sapari said that these will help support on-going efforts to professionalise the sector.
He added: “We strongly encourage service buyers and service providers to work closely together to explore productivity solutions to enhance work processes. We also urge cleaners to constantly upgrade their skills so that they can take on higher value-added jobs in the future.”
Response from the Ground
Having been in the cleaning industry for 10 years, cleaner Jumaliah Munabi, 60, has seen her wage gradually increase. She now earns $1,000, up from the $800 before the PWM was implemented.
“The cost of living in Singapore is already so high. I’m sure it will continue to go up. I’m grateful that we cleaners are not being forgotten and left behind. I suffer from high cholesterol and I don’t want to burden my children, so the money will definitely be useful in helping me to pay for my medical expenses,” she said.
