
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
PWM cleaning covers all Singapore citizens and permanent residents employed in outsourced cleaning jobs. Employers are encouraged to adopt the PWM’s principles for their foreign and in-house cleaners, upgrade their skills and implement productivity-based wage progression pathways.
The progressive wage structure comprises 3 wage ladders for 3 broad categories of cleaning jobs.
Progressive Wage Model Cleaning Categories
The following categories are comprised in PWM cleaning.
- Office and commercial buildings – e.g. offices, schools, hospitals and polyclinics.
- Food and beverage (F&B) establishments – e.g. hawker centres and food courts.
- 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 2021
Starting from 1 July 2021, outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages.

PWM From 1 July 2022
Starting from 1 July 2022, outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages.

Cleaning Courses and Certificates
Find out more about the cleaning courses available for you to attain WSQ certificates for cleaning.
Source of Information