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More than 53,000 resident retail workers are set to benefit from the updated Progressive Wage Model recommendations, alongside refreshed job roles and expanded training options.
The Tripartite Cluster for Retail (TCR) has announced a new set of Progressive Wage Model (PWM) recommendations for the retail sector, set to take effect from 1 September 2025.
These recommendations build on the wage schedule first introduced in 2022 and will cover more than 53,000 resident retail workers. They aim to raise wages, strengthen career progression, and support skills upgrading.
According to the TCR, the retail sector is facing pressures such as shrinking footfall due to e-commerce competition, upcoming cross-border retail options like the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link, rising operating costs, manpower shortages, and changing customer expectations. In response, the recommendations include wage increases for the next bound, a review of job descriptions, and an expanded list of recognised training courses.
Yeo Wan Ling, TCR Chair and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General said: “With a clear career pathway and robust support for continuous skills upgrading, we are enabling retail workers to grow alongside the evolving industry. At the same time, we aim to reshape the perceptions of retail jobs and position it as a dynamic sector with meaningful, long-term career opportunities for Singaporeans.”
To mark the announcement, ASG Yeo visited Far East Flora where, together with Ryan Chioh, TCR Co‑Chair & SNEF Representative and Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower, she met with retail workers to understand their roles and aspirations. The visit showcased how PWM practices are being implemented and the sector’s transformation efforts to build a skilled and resilient retail workforce.
Chioh, who is also Deputy Group Managing Director of Far East Flora Holdings, said that while rising costs and manpower constraints remain challenges, the PWM’s structured wage progression and targeted training provide “a practical way forward” to help businesses remain competitive while supporting a motivated workforce. He added that retail is “ultimately a people business” and encouraged more companies to grow alongside their teams.
Key recommendations
Citing macroeconomic uncertainties, rising business costs, and structural challenges such as manpower shortages and growing competition from e-commerce and regional retail alternatives, the TCR has recommended a “two plus one year” schedule of wage increases. Under this approach, fixed annual increments will take place from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2028, with the adjustment for the third year subject to review depending on the economic outlook.
From 1 September 2025, the new PWM baseline gross wages (excluding overtime) will be:
- Retail assistant/cashier: S$2,305 a month (increase from S$2,175), rising to 2,435 from 1 September 2026 and S$2,565 starting 1 September 2027.
- Senior cashier/senior retail assistant: S$2,535 a month (increase from S$2,395), rising to S$2,680 from 1 September 2026 and S$2,820 from 1 September 2027.
- Assistant retail supervisor: S$2,790 a month (increase from S$2,635), rising to S$2,950 from 1 September 2026 and S$3,100 from 1 September 2027.
The hourly rates will also apply to part-time workers (work less than 35 hours per week), ensuring they are compensated in line with the PWM structure for their full-time counterparts.
Updated job descriptions across the retail PWM
TCR has updated job descriptions across the retail PWM to better reflect sector transformation. The revised roles place greater emphasis on digital tools, enhanced customer service, and clearer distinctions between supervisory positions such as assistant retail supervisor and retail supervisor. This alignment aims to mirror current retail operations more accurately and provide clearer career progression pathways.
Training modules and recognition
To support workforce upskilling, the TCR has expanded the list of approved Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) training modules across all job levels. It also recognises qualifications from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) such as polytechnics including Ngee Ann, Republic, Nanyang and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) as meeting PWM training requirements. This broadens accessible and diverse training options, acknowledges prior learning and reduces duplicate training efforts for workers with existing relevant skills.
These measures seek to enable retail workers to upskill more efficiently, enhancing employability and opening opportunities for higher-paying roles in an increasingly digital and customer-focused industry.
Support for retail workers
The TCR also called for whole-of-society support to uplift lower-wage retail workers. Employers are encouraged to invest in training and productivity improvements while consumers are urged to support local retailers. The recommendations were developed following extensive consultations with employers, unions, industry associations and workers.
Full details of the recommendations can be found here.
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