SINGAPORE: Companies in the cleaning and security sectors will soon be subject to new rules that require them to set basic salaries for workers.
The government is making the labour movement's progressive wage model compulsory in the two industries, starting with cleaning.
Details for the security sector are still being worked out.
From September this year, entry-level pay for cleaners will be set at S$1,000 monthly, 20 per cent higher than today's median basic wage for the sector.
For this to be effected, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will table a bill to introduce a mandatory licensing regime in Parliament under the Environmental Public Health Act.
The Labour Movement is also pushing for progressive wage to be mandated in the landscaping sector.
Arif Jumaat and his colleagues are cheering the government's move to set basic wages for cleaners via the progressive wage model.
The 40-year-old cleaning supervisor has already benefited from the model, which his company chose to implement earlier.
The model seeks to progressively raise low earners' salaries by increasing productivity through skills upgrading and training.
Mr Arif now earns around S$1,400 monthly.
He said: "Last time, my pay (was) just (over) S$800. I (did) not (have) enough money, but now (it is) okay."
Cleaning businesses will soon be required, through a license, to pay resident cleaners wages that are determined through tripartite discussions between the government, employers and the labour movement.
This is regardless of whether they contract with public or private service buyers.
It means cleaners' salaries will not fall below S$1,000 a month.
As cleaners move up the wage ladder, a skilled cleaner will get a basic wage of S$1,400 or more, while a supervisor in charge of cleaners can earn a basic pay of S$1,600 or more.
There are some 55,000 cleaners in Singapore's resident workforce today.....
The government is making the labour movement's progressive wage model compulsory in the two industries, starting with cleaning.
Details for the security sector are still being worked out.
From September this year, entry-level pay for cleaners will be set at S$1,000 monthly, 20 per cent higher than today's median basic wage for the sector.
For this to be effected, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will table a bill to introduce a mandatory licensing regime in Parliament under the Environmental Public Health Act.
The Labour Movement is also pushing for progressive wage to be mandated in the landscaping sector.
Arif Jumaat and his colleagues are cheering the government's move to set basic wages for cleaners via the progressive wage model.
The 40-year-old cleaning supervisor has already benefited from the model, which his company chose to implement earlier.
The model seeks to progressively raise low earners' salaries by increasing productivity through skills upgrading and training.
Mr Arif now earns around S$1,400 monthly.
He said: "Last time, my pay (was) just (over) S$800. I (did) not (have) enough money, but now (it is) okay."
Cleaning businesses will soon be required, through a license, to pay resident cleaners wages that are determined through tripartite discussions between the government, employers and the labour movement.
This is regardless of whether they contract with public or private service buyers.
It means cleaners' salaries will not fall below S$1,000 a month.
As cleaners move up the wage ladder, a skilled cleaner will get a basic wage of S$1,400 or more, while a supervisor in charge of cleaners can earn a basic pay of S$1,600 or more.
There are some 55,000 cleaners in Singapore's resident workforce today.....
