Singapore-based waste collection workers to get higher wages

SINGAPORE: The basic salary for entry-level waste collection workers who are Singaporeans or permanent residents is expected to increase to S $3,260 by the year 2028, according to a new progressive wage model for the sector.

After the Government accepted recommendations by the Tripartite Cluster for Waste Management TCWM for a progressive wage model for the waste management industry, the recommendations cover the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors, as well as career and skills ladder progression, said the Ministry of Manpower MOM and the National Environment Agency NEA on Monday.

MOM and NEA said that up to 3,000 Singaporean and permanent resident workers in the waste management sector are set to benefit from the new progressive wage model.

The basic wages for entry-level waste collection workers who are Singaporeans or permanent residents are set to increase from S $2,210 in July 2023. The amount will increase by S $210 each year until 2028, when it hits S $3,260.

This is a 48 per cent increase over the six-year period.

The baseline wages for senior drivers in the waste collection sector are expected to increase from S $2,910 in 2023 to S $3,960 by 2028.

Our lower-wage workers have meaningful wage growth to gain ground with the median worker said MOM and NEA.

In the materials recovery sub-sector, entry-level jobs such as sorters can expect to see their pay increase from S $2,110 in 2023 to S $3,160 by 2028.