6-year progressive wage model activated for conservancy truck drivers in Singapore

Following this, cleaning businesses must follow the TCC’s latest PWM guidelines in their submitted progressive wage plans for resident cleaners to obtain licensing.

The progressive wage model (PWM)'s implementation is currently underway in several sectors in Singapore, and the latest to come under the purview of the wage model are conservancy truck drivers (class 4/5), who will see an increase in their wages over a six-year period. 

This was shared in a press release by the Ministry of Manpower on 30 June 2023 (Friday), which highlighted that Singapore's Government has accepted recommendations in the addendum to the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners (TCC) report on Conservancy Truck Drivers (Class 4/5) under the Cleaning Progressive Wage Model (PWM). Implementation of the recommendations will be led by the Commisioner of Labour from 1 July. 

Implementation of six-year schedule of annual wage increases 

Presently, the Cleaning PWM is an existing condition under the National Environment Agency’s licensing regime for general cleaning businesses, and is implemented through the Order imposed by the Commissioner of Labour. 

When the existing wage schedule concludes on 30 June 2023, a six-year schedule of wage increases starting 1 July 2023 will be implemented for Conservancy Truck Drivers (Class 4/5). The wages will follow the job role of “Driver” under the Waste Management PWM, as both types of drivers are required to possess a Class 4/5 driving licence and drive heavy vehicles of more than 2,500kg in unladen weight.

The statement cited: "The scheduled sustained wage increases reflect a strong tripartite consensus to raise the wages of Conservancy Truck Drivers (Class 4/5) while providing service providers and buyers with greater certainty in business and contracting matters."

The updated wage schedule is listed below:

Updated definition of Conservancy Truck Drivers (Class 4/5)

As part of this announcement, the updated definition for conservancy truck drivers included only drivers in cleaning services. This ensures that cleaning businesses will have to minimally pay the corresponding wage in the PWM wage schedule to Conservancy Truck Drivers (Class 4/5).

It defines a "conservancy truck driver" (Class 4/5) as a person who possesses Class 4/5 driving licence, operating mechanical vehicles whose un-laden weight exceeds 2,500 kg for cleaning services. Their job duties may include operating motorised vehicles for sweeping of access roads. Examples of mechanical motorised vehicles may include any type of road sweeper more than 2,500kg in un-laden weight.

In order for businesses to become licensed, cleaning businesses must follow the TCC’s latest PWM guidelines in their submitted progressive wage plans for resident cleaners. Following this, licensed cleaning businesses are to pay their resident cleaners according to their progressive wage plans, and issue payslips containing details of the resident cleaners’ basic wage and other payments received.

Licensed cleaning businesses found to have breached licensing conditions are liable to a financial penalty not exceeding S$5,000 and may risk having their cleaning business licence suspended or revoked.

Thank you for reading our story! Please leave us a comment if you enjoy our content — take our 2023 Readers' Survey here.

Lead image / Shutterstock