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, condominiumsGroup 2 F&B Establishes e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurantsGroup 3 Conservancy e.g. town councils, public cleansing PM Requirements for In-house CleanersSupervisors ≥ $1,967 Supervisors ≥ $1,967 Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,077 Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $1,967Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $1,749 Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $1,749 Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $1,967 Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $1,749Outdoor 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) ≥ $1,530General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,312 Table-top cleaners ≥ $1,421 General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,530 Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $1,421N/A General cleaners ≥ $1,312 N/AGeneral / 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, condominiumsGroup 2 F&B Establishes e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurantsGroup 3 Conservancy e.g. town councils, public cleansing PM Requirements for In-house CleanersSupervisors ≥ $2,210 Supervisors ≥ $2,210 Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,410Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,210Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,010 Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,010 Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,210Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,010Outdoor 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) ≥ $1,795General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,570 Table-top cleaners ≥ $1,670 General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $1,795 Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $1,670N/A General cleaners ≥ $1,570 N/AGeneral / 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, condominiumsGroup 2 F&B Establishes e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurantsGroup 3 Conservancy e.g. town councils, public cleansing PM Requirements for In-house CleanersSupervisors ≥ $2,455 Supervisors ≥ $2,455Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,620Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,455Multi-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) ≥ $2,060General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,740Table-top cleaners ≥ $1,840 General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,060 Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $1,840N/A General cleaners ≥ $1,740N/AGeneral / 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, condominiumsGroup 2 F&B Establishes e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurantsGroup 3 Conservancy e.g. town councils, public cleansing PM Requirements for In-house CleanersSupervisors ≥ $2,700 Supervisors ≥ $2,700Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $2,830Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,700Multi-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) ≥ $2,325General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $1,910Table-top cleaners ≥ $2,010 General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,325Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $2,010N/A General cleaners ≥ $1,910N/AGeneral / 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, condominiumsGroup 2 F&B Establishes e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurantsGroup 3 Conservancy e.g. town councils, public cleansing PM Requirements for In-house CleanersSupervisors ≥ $2,870 Supervisors ≥ $2,870Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $3,040Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $2,870Multi-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) ≥ $2,495General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,080Table-top cleaners ≥ $2,180 General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,495Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $2,180N/A General cleaners ≥ $2,080N/AGeneral / 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, condominiumsGroup 2 F&B Establishes e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurantsGroup 3 Conservancy e.g. town councils, public cleansing PM Requirements for In-house CleanersSupervisors ≥ $3,040 Supervisors ≥ $3,040Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $3,250Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $3,040Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,870 Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $2,870 Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $3,040Multi-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) ≥ $2,665General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,250Table-top cleaners ≥ $2,350 General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,665Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $2,350N/A General cleaners ≥ $2,250N/AGeneral / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,250
PWM From 1 July 2028 to 30 Jun 2029
Outsourced resident cleaners must be paid the following wages
Group 1 Office and Commercial Sites e.g. offices, schools, offices, medical clinics, condominiumsGroup 2 F&B Establishes e.g. hawker centres, food courts, restaurantsGroup 3 Conservancy e.g. town councils, public cleansing PM Requirements for In-house CleanersSupervisors ≥ $3,210 Supervisors ≥ $3,210Truck drivers (Class 4/5) ≥ $3,460Supervisors/ Mechanical drivers ≥ $3,210Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $3,040 Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $3,040Supervisors / Mechanical drivers ≥ $3,210Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators ≥ $3,040 Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,835Dishwashers / Refuse collectors / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,835 Multi-skilled cleaners / Machine operators / Refuse collectors ≥ $3,040 Outdoor cleaners / Healthcare cleaners / Restroom cleaners / Dishwashers (F&B) / Refuse collectors (F&B) ≥ $2,835General / Indoor cleaners ≥ $2,420Table-top cleaners ≥ $2,520 General cleaners / Restroom cleaners ≥ $2,835Table-top cleaners (F&B) ≥ $2,520N/A General cleaners ≥ $2,420N/AGeneral / Indoor cleaners ≥ $
Cleaning Courses and Certificates
Find out more about the cleaning courses available for you to attain WSQ certificates for cleaning.
See Cleaning Courses
Source of Information
https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/progressive-wage-model/cleaning-sector