Progressive Wage Model for the waste management sector

Companies must meet the Progressive Wage Model wage and training requirements for waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents.

What is it

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors was developed by the Tripartite Cluster for Waste Management (TCWM). It features:

Training requirements that tap on the Skills Framework for Environmental Services, which covers the waste management industry. This ensures that workers have the skills they need to carry out their jobs.
Progressive wages set at each level. This ensures that workers are paid wages that correspond to their skills and productivity.

All public waste collectors, general waste collectors, and general waste disposal facility licensees must meet the PWM requirements as part of National Environment Agency’s (NEA) licensing framework.

Who it covers

The PWM requirements are mandatory. They cover all Singapore citizens and permanent residents who are:

Employed as waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors, who work in licensed general waste collectors, public waste collectors, or general waste disposal facilities.

The waste management PWM covers the following waste management job roles in the waste collection and materials recovery subsectors.

Waste collection sub-sector

A person assigned to assist in managing waste collection services, inventory, equipment, and maintenance schedules, and mentor new drivers. They will have to carry out waste collection services when required, manage incidents which include resolving reports from Drivers or Senior drivers.

The Captain is able to drive more than 1 type of trucks.

A person assigned to carry out waste collection services from site to disposal facilities without or with minimal supervision. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, incidents and lead, supervise and guide or mentor new drivers.

A person assigned to carry out waste collection services from site to disposal facilities as directed. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, and incidents.

A Driver operates vehicles such as the Rear End Loader or Hooklift truck, requiring a Class 4 driving licence or above.

A Crew, Senior crew or Team lead may be deployed as a Driver, provided that the worker holds at least a Class 4 driving licence and have met the role’s training requirements.

A person assigned to assist in managing waste and recyclables collection services, inventory, equipment and maintenance schedule, and teams and incidents.

A person assigned to provide waste and recyclables collection services when required, mentor new crews and conduct on-the-job training.

A person assigned to provide waste and recyclables collection services without or with minimal supervision. They will also handle tools and equipment and incidents.

A person assigned to provide waste and recyclables collection services as directed, handle tools and equipment and incidents.

Materials recovery sub-sector

A person assigned to assist in managing waste recycling materials recovery operations at disposal facility, inventory, equipment and maintenance schedule, teams and incidents.

A person assigned to perform waste recycling and materials recovery operations when necessary, mentor new sorters, and conduct on the job training. They will handle heavy machineries and equipment when necessary, and incidents.

A person assigned to handle heavy machineries and equipment at disposal facility, such as operating forklifts or heavy machinery.

A person assigned to perform waste recycling and materials recovery operations without or with minimal supervision and guide new sorters on the job. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, and incidents.

A person assigned to perform waste recycling and materials recovery operations as directed. They will handle mechanised tools and equipment, and incidents.

Find out more on the coverage of waste management job roles and descriptions of duties and responsibilities in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors.

Wage requirements

The TCWM will undertake a review of the wage schedule in 2025.

Job level	Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time waste collection sub-sector workers (35-44 hours a week)
Job level	1 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025	1 Jul 2025 - 30 Jun 2026	1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2027	1 Jul 2027 - 30 Jun 2028	1 Jul 2028 - 30 Jun 2029
Captain	Left to market forces
Senior driver	≥ $3,120	≥ $3,330	≥ $3,540	≥ $3,750	≥ $3,960
Hooklift driver	≥ $2,920	≥ $3,130	≥ $3,340	≥ $3,550	≥ $3,760
Driver	≥ $2,820	≥ $3,030	≥ $3,240	≥ $3,450	≥ $3,660

Job level	Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time waste collection sub-sector workers (35-44 hours a week)
Job level	1 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025	1 Jul 2025 - 30 Jun 2026	1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2027	1 Jul 2027 - 30 Jun 2028	1 Jul 2028 - 30 Jun 2029
Supervisor	≥ $3,070	≥ $3,280	≥ $3,490	≥ $3,700	≥ $3,910
Team lead	≥ $2,820	≥ $3,030	≥ $3,240	≥ $3,450	≥ $3,660
Senior Crew	≥ $2,620	≥ $2,830	≥ $3,040	≥ $3,250	≥ $3,460
Crew	≥ $2,420	≥ $2,630	≥ $2,840	≥ $3,050	≥ $3,260

Job level	Monthly gross wage requirements (excluding overtime payments) for full-time materials recovery sub-sector workers (35-44 hours a week)
Job level	1 Jul 2024 - 30 Jun 2025	1 Jul 2025 - 30 Jun 2026	1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2027	1 Jul 2027 - 30 Jun 2028	1 Jul 2028 - 30 Jun 2029
Plant supervisor	≥ $2,920	≥ $3,130	≥ $3,340	≥ $3,550	≥ $3,760
Team Lead	≥ $2,720	≥ $2,930	≥ $3,140	≥ $3,350	≥ $3,560
Senior sorter/ Machine operator	≥ $2,520	≥ $2,730	≥ $2,940	≥ $3,150	≥ $3,360
Sorter	≥ $2,320	≥ $2,530	≥ $2,740	≥ $2,950	≥ $3,160

Total monthly gross wage (for full-time work of 35-44 hours per week) refers to the sum of:

Basic wage
Allowances, e.g. travel, food, and housing
Productivity incentive payments

It excludes:

Bonuses, e.g. Annual Wage Supplement
Stock options
Reimbursement of special expenses incurred in the course of employment
Payments-in-kind
Employer CPF contributions

Employers must pay a PWM Bonus of at least 1 month of basic monthly wages to eligible waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recover sub-sectors every year.

Wage and PWM Bonus for part-time workers will be pro-rated.

Employees can check their salary information, job details, and if employers are paying them the correct wages using the Progressive Wage Portal (PW Portal).

Additional PWM gross wage requirements for overtime

Employers must meet additional requirements for full-time employees who fulfil both of the following conditions:

Work more than 44 hours a week
Are covered by Part 4 of the Employment Act

Employers must pay these employees according to both of the following conditions:

An overtime rate of pay at least 1.5 times the basic rate of pay, according to overtime requirements under Part 4 of the Employment Act.
A monthly gross wage of at least the PWM gross wage requirements for overtime hours.

Training requirements

Employers must ensure that their Singapore citizen and permanent resident waste management workers in the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors meet the waste management PWM training requirements:

For Crew and Sorter: At least 2 Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Statement of Attainment, out of the list of approved WSQ training modules.
For higher job levels: Additional WSQ Statement of Attainment out of the list of approved WSQ training modules, depending on the job level.

For more detail on the training requirements and the list of approved WSQ training modules, please see Annex A of the Addendum to TCWM's Report.

Find out more

For more information: