Cleaners’ minimum wage: $1,060 – very low?

May 15, 2018

Isn’t a minimum wage of $1,060 very low?

I refer to the article “Parliament: Ng Chee Meng proposes new committee to support older workers” (Straits Times, May 15).

It states that “As for low-wage workers, Mr Ng noted that while the Progressive Wage model has done much to alleviate hardship of low-wage workers in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors since it was introduced in 2012, there are other sectors with low wage growth.”

In this connection, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) web site – Progressive Wage Model (PWM) Cleaning Sector – “If you have new service contracts that starts from 1 July 2017, you must use the following revised wages” – (at least) $1,060 for Group 1 – Office & Commercial – General/Indoor Cleaners, (and) Group 2 – F & B Establishment – General Cleaners”.

Isn’t a basic monthly salary of $1,060, including employee’s CPF still very very low?

Leong Sze Hian

About the Author

Leong

Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications.