Singapore, 7 June 2021 – The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC) [1] for a six-year schedule of sustained wage increases and enhanced mandatory training requirements, which will benefit about 40,000 resident cleaners employed by over 1,500 cleaning businesses.

2          The TCC’s recommendations for sustained wage increases and enhanced training will ensure significant wage growth and skills upgrading for cleaners, and develop a more competent and productive cleaning workforce. Their recommendations will ensure that the cleaning workforce continues to see good wage growth, even as the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers looks to ensure that wage growth in Progressive Wage Model (PWM) sectors continue to outpace median wage growth and is enjoyed by more lower-wage workers.

Six-Year Schedule of Sustained Wage Increases

3          The Government accepts the TCC’s recommendation for a six-year schedule of sustained wage increases from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2029. This reflects a strong tripartite consensus to raise the wages of cleaners, and bring them closer to the median wage worker. In addition, the schedule of sustained wage increases will offer service providers and buyers greater business and contracting certainty.

4          Paying resident cleaners progressive wages stipulated under the PWM is an existing condition under the National Environment Agency’s licensing regime for general cleaning businesses, through the Order imposed by the Commissioner for Labour. The enhanced wage schedule will take effect from 1 July 2023.

Enhanced Training Requirements

5          The Government also accepts the TCC’s recommended mandatory training requirement under the Skills Framework for Environmental Services. With effect from 31 December 2022, all licensed cleaning businesses have to ensure that their cleaners attain (i) one Workplace Safety and Health related module, and (ii) one core module that is endorsed by the TCC [2]. The enhanced training requirements will equip cleaners with the knowledge and skills needed to carry out their work safely, as well as achieve higher productivity and better service delivery.

6          The Government will further review the training requirements beyond 2025. Sufficient lead time will be provided for the industry to adapt to any enhancements to the training requirements.

Whole-of-Society Effort Required to Uplift Lower-Wage Workers

7          The Government reiterates its call for service providers to accelerate transformation efforts like job redesign, service buyers to adopt progressive contracting practices, and workers to embrace upskilling. The Government supports service providers and service buyers through the Workcare Grant, and supports workers through Workfare. Together, our collective whole-of-society efforts will uplift our lower-wage workers.

8          The Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners Report is available online at www.ntuc.org.sg/tripartiteguidelines

[1] The TCC comprises representatives from the Government, unions, cleaning service providers and buyers.

[2] The list of Workforce Skills Qualification modules endorsed by the TCC can be found in the TCC report via the link provided in para 8.

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