Oral Answer to PQ on Uptake of PW Mark and Service Buyers Support of Accredited Suppliers

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2174 OF 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2023
QUESTION NO. 5048 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Ms Yeo Wan Ling

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) since the implementation of the Progressive Wage (PW) Mark accreditation, recognising companies that pay progressive wages to lower-wage workers, how has the uptake of the PW Mark accreditation been; and (b) whether the Ministry tracks if more service buyers have chosen to do business exclusively with companies accredited with the PW Mark.

Answer:

1. Since the Progressive Wage Mark (PW Mark)’s launch in January 2023, more than 3,600 firms have been accredited with the PW Mark.

2. MOM encourages service buyers to procure from PW Mark-accredited suppliers. However, MOM does not track the number of service buyers that have chosen to do business exclusively with companies accredited with the PW Mark. Nonetheless, based on our recent business sentiment survey, 9 in 10 businesses polled indicated that they will prioritise purchases from corporate suppliers with the PW Mark, in support of lower-wage workers. As a major service buyer, the Government has taken the lead in making the PW Mark a contractual obligation for tenders since 1 March 2023. This requirement will be extended to include Government quotations from 1 March 2024.

3. Uplifting lower-wage workers is a whole-of-society effort. We urge all employers to pay Progressive Wages to their lower-wage workers, and to apply for the PW Mark if eligible. We also encourage service buyers and consumers to do their part by purchasing from PW Mark-accredited companies where possible.