Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
PWM related Questions:
1. How did the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC) determine the different wage levels in the Progressive Wage Model (PWM)?
In its deliberation of the PWM, the TCC considered the following factors: (i) The nature and working conditions of the various cleaning jobs; (ii) Wages of occupations with workers of similar profile as cleaners; (iii) Wages of cleaners working for buyers who practice best sourcing; (iv) Information and inputs from the cleaning industry; and (v) The National Wages Council’s (NWC) 2012/2013 recommendation to provide low-wage workers with a built-in wage increase of at least $50.
The TCC will also periodically review the PWM to ensure that the wage ladders remain relevant to the cleaning industry.
2. How should workers be classified if their job responsibilities cut across more than one job category?
For workers whose job responsibilities fall into more than 1 job category, he shall be classified under the job category where he spends majority of his time and the corresponding wage level applies.
3. How should people with disabilities be paid under the PWM?
TCC recommended PWM for the cleaning industry, so as to achieve long term improvements in a sustainable manner. The salaries for people with disabilities, like those for everyone else, should be based on their ability to fulfill the job requirements.
4. What are the types of establishments which will fall under Group 1, 2 and 3 respectively?
Group 1: Office and Group 2: Food and Beverages Group 3: Conservancy Commercial Buildings Establishments
Offices Food Courts Beaches Schools Hawker Centres Car Parks Hospitals Bar/ Pub / Nightclubs Crematoriums / Polyclinics Cafeterias Columbarium / Airports and Canteens Cemeteries checkpoints Coffee Shops Drains/ Canals / Rivers Bus Shelters / Markets / Reservoirs Interchanges Restaurants Expressways Campuses Open Spaces / Cinemas Pavements Condominiums Parks Country Clubs/ Public Streets Community Clubs Vehicle Parks Educational Public Areas Institutions Town Council Areas Factories Fitness Clubs Hostels Hotels/ Chalets / Resorts Military Sites MRT/LRT/ Monorail Stations Nursing Homes Places of Worship (Churches / Temples / Mosques) Service Apartments Shopping Malls Sports Complexes Stadiums Supermarket Theatre Workers’ Dormitories
*The above list is non-exhaustive
5. Why does PWM only apply to resident cleaners and not foreign cleaners?
Employers, when hiring foreign workers, have to bear other manpower-related costs like the foreign worker levy and accommodation. Recognizing this, the specific progressive wage levels apply only to resident cleaners. However, employers should also incorporate the key principles of progressive wages to the wage structure of their foreign cleaners.
6. Since the PWM wage levels are for full-time resident cleaners1, how should Part-Time Cleaners, Temporary Cleaners or Cleaners on Casual Employment be paid under the PWM?
The PWM is applicable to all resident cleaners under contracts of service2. For part-time resident cleaners, employers may refer to the below formula to calculate the pro-rated PWM salary:
12 months x PWM wage of Number of working hours the similar full-time cleaner Pro-rated PWM basic wage of part-time cleaner is required to = x part-time resident cleaner work under his contract of service in a month 52 weeks x 44 hours/week
1 A full-time employee, as defined under the Employment Act (Part-Time Employees) Regulations, is one who is required to work for 35 hours or more a week. Conversely, a part-time employee is one who is required to work for less than 35 hours a week. 2 This includes casual and temporary resident cleaners. Classification of Cleaning Job Types related Questions
7. How are condominium refuse cleaners classified and how much should they be paid?
Cleaning companies should take reference from the refuse collector category under Group 3 of the PWM and be paid $1,400 in basic wage as condominium refuse collectors have similar job nature to that of the town council refuse collectors.
Training related Questions:
8. Why is TCC recommending 2 Environmental Cleaning (EC) WSQ modules which are more than the requirement set forth by licensing?
For a start, the TCC understands that under licensing, cleaners are required to be trained in 1 module under the EC WSQ framework. However, for the betterment of the industry and to achieve long term improvement in a sustainable manner; TCC will retain its recommendation of 2 modules and set it as a long term aim for the cleaning industry.
Funding related Questions:
9. What are some of the incentive schemes in place to help Service Providers and Service Buyers mitigate the possible increase in costs?
The TCC recommends that Service Buyers and Service Providers work together, such as by re- negotiating the service contract terms, to help outsourced local cleaners benefit from progressive wages.
To help Service Providers and Service Buyers mitigate the possible increase in costs, cleaning companies can tap on the Inclusive Growth Programme funding (IGP), while Service Buyers can tap on the Progressive Wage Incentive (PWI). You may contact e2i at 6474 0606 or write in to [email protected] for further enquiries on the above-mentioned schemes.
Miscellaneous Questions
10. How should cleaners with Team Leader duties be paid?
Team Leaders are recommended to be paid additional wage allowance starting from $100.
11. How should cleaners with toilet cleaning duties be paid?
As toilet cleaning entails hardship, it is encouraged for companies to recognise this hardship and provide cleaners who take on such duties with additional allowances.
12. What is the min-max ratio recommended for the cleaning industry?
The TCC urges employers to make reference to the NWC recommendation for the min-max ratio.
The NWC recommends a min-max ratio of below 1.5.
Licensing Related Questions
13. For frequently asked questions on the licensing of cleaning businesses, please refer to the NEA’s FAQs webpage at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/public-health/public-cleanliness/cleaning- industry/cleaning-business-licence-faq