Progressive Wage Model for Cleaning Industry

What is Progressive Wage Model?

Progressive Wage Model (PWM) maps out a clear career pathway for employee wages to rise along with training and improvements in productivity and standards. PWM is mandatory in certain industries, including the cleaning industry.

Progressive Wage Model Cleaning

Progressive Wage Model (PWM) cleaning is a mandatory requirement for cleaning companies in Singapore. Cleaning companies have to meet the PWM wage and training requirements for cleaners who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents to obtain or renew their licences.

PWM for cleaning industry comes under the Cleaning Business Licence scheme administered by National Environmental Agency (NEA). It was developed by the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC).

Progressive Wage Model Cleaning Requirements

• Are mandatory.
• Cover all Singapore citizens and permanent residents employed in outsourced cleaning jobs, or in-house cleaning jobs in firms that hire foreign workers.

The progressive wage structure comprises 3 wage ladders for 3 broad categories of cleaning jobs.

Employers are encouraged to adopt the PWM’s principles for their foreign cleaners by upgrading their skills and implementing productivity-based wage progression pathways.

Progressive Wage Model Cleaning Categories

The following categories are comprised in PWM cleaning.

• Group 1: Office and commercial buildings – e.g. offices, schools, hospitals and polyclinics.
• Group 2: Food and beverage (F&B) establishments – e.g. hawker centres and food courts.
• Group 3: Conservancy sector – e.g. Town Councils and public cleansing.

These categories account for the most common types of cleaning jobs. They are based on NEA’s classification of cleaning sub-sectors under the Enhanced Clean Mark Accreditation Scheme.

Progressive Wage Model Cleaning Salary

Cleaning companies must ensure that its Singapore citizen and PR cleaners meet the PWM’s training requirements. Training is also mandatory for cleaning business licence application.

The WSQ Environmental Cleaning framework offers three progressive Environmental Cleaning Certificates:

• WSQ Certificate in Environmental Cleaning
• WSQ Higher Certificate in Environmental Cleaning
• WSQ Advanced Certificate in Environmental Cleaning

The WSQ Certificates cater to different job levels such as cleaning staff, cleaning team leaders, and cleaning supervisors.

PWM From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages.

Group 1 Office and Commercial Sites   e.g. offices, schools, offices, medical clinics, condominiums	Group 2 F&B Establishes   e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurants	Group 3 Conservancy   e.g. town councils, public cleansing	PM Requirements for In-house Cleaners
Supervisors ≥ $1,967	Supervisors ≥ $1,967	Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,077	Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $1,967
Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $1,749	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $1,749	Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $1,967	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $1,749
Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,530	Dishwashers / Refuse collectors / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,530	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators / Refuse collectors ≥ $1,749	Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners / Dishwashers (F&B) / Refuse collectors (F&B) ≥ $1,530
General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,312	Table-top cleaners ≥ $1,421	General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,530	Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $1,421
N/A	General cleaners ≥ $1,312	N/A	General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,312

PWM From 1 July 2023 to 30 Jun 2024

Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages.

Group 1 Office and Commercial Sites   e.g. offices, schools, offices, medical clinics, condominiums	Group 2 F&B Establishes   e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurants	Group 3 Conservancy   e.g. town councils, public cleansing	PM Requirements for In-house Cleaners
Supervisors ≥ $2,210	Supervisors ≥ $2,210	Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,410	Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,210
Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,010	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,010	Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,210	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,010
Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,795	Dishwashers / Refuse collectors / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,795	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators / Refuse collectors ≥ $2,010	Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners / Dishwashers (F&B) / Refuse collectors (F&B) ≥ $1,795
General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,570	Table-top cleaners ≥ $1,670	General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,795	Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $1,670
N/A	General cleaners ≥ $1,570	N/A	General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,570

PWM From 1 July 2024 to 30 Jun 2025

Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages.

Group 1 Office and Commercial Sites   e.g. offices, schools, offices, medical clinics, condominiums	Group 2 F&B Establishes   e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurants	Group 3 Conservancy   e.g. town councils, public cleansing	PM Requirements for In-house Cleaners
Supervisors ≥ $2,455	Supervisors ≥ $2,455	Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,620	Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,455
Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,270	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,270	Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,455	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,270
Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,060	Dishwashers / Refuse collectors / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,060	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators / Refuse collectors ≥ $2,270	Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners / Dishwashers (F&B) / Refuse collectors (F&B) ≥ $2,060
General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,740	Table-top cleaners ≥ $1,840	General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,060	Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $1,840
N/A	General cleaners ≥ $1,740	N/A	General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,740

PWM From 1 July 2025 to 30 Jun 2026

Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages.

Group 1 Office and Commercial Sites   e.g. offices, schools, offices, medical clinics, condominiums	Group 2 F&B Establishes   e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurants	Group 3 Conservancy   e.g. town councils, public cleansing	PM Requirements for In-house Cleaners
Supervisors ≥ $2,700	Supervisors ≥ $2,700	Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,830	Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,700
Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,530	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,530	Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,700	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,530
Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,325	Dishwashers / Refuse collectors / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,325	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators / Refuse collectors ≥ $2,530	Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners / Dishwashers (F&B) / Refuse collectors (F&B) ≥ $2,325
General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,910	Table-top cleaners ≥ $2,010	General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,325	Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $2,010
N/A	General cleaners ≥ $1,910	N/A	General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,910

PWM From 1 July 2026 to 30 Jun 2027

Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages

Group 1 Office and Commercial Sites   e.g. offices, schools, offices, medical clinics, condominiums	Group 2 F&B Establishes   e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurants	Group 3 Conservancy   e.g. town councils, public cleansing	PM Requirements for In-house Cleaners
Supervisors ≥ $2,870	Supervisors ≥ $2,870	Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $3,040	Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,870
Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,700	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,700	Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,870	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,700
Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,495	Dishwashers / Refuse collectors / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,495	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators / Refuse collectors ≥ $2,700	Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners / Dishwashers (F&B) / Refuse collectors (F&B) ≥ $2,495
General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,080	Table-top cleaners ≥ $2,180	General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,495	Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $2,180
N/A	General cleaners ≥ $2,080	N/A	General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,080

PWM From 1 July 2027 to 30 Jun 2028

Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages

Group 1 Office and Commercial Sites   e.g. offices, schools, offices, medical clinics, condominiums	Group 2 F&B Establishes   e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurants	Group 3 Conservancy   e.g. town councils, public cleansing	PM Requirements for In-house Cleaners
Supervisors ≥ $3,040	Supervisors ≥ $3,040	Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $3,250	Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $3,040
Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,870	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,870	Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $3,040	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,870
Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,665	Dishwashers / Refuse collectors / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,665	Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators / Refuse collectors ≥ $2,870	Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners / Dishwashers (F&B) / Refuse collectors (F&B) ≥ $2,665
General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,250	Table-top cleaners ≥ $2,350	General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,665	Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $2,350
N/A	General cleaners ≥ $2,250	N/A	General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,250

PWM From 1 July 2028 to 30 Jun 2029

Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages

Source of Information

https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/progressive-wage-model/cleaning-sector