Minimum Wage Singapore 2026: Progressive Wage Model

Singapore does not have a universal minimum wage. Instead, the government uses the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) — a sector-by-sector approach that sets minimum wages based on job level and skills, not just a flat hourly rate. Together with the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) and the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), this forms a three-layer wage protection system that covers around 80% of resident lower-wage workers in 2026.

This guide explains how the system works, what each PWM sector pays, who falls outside the model, and how Singapore's approach compares with the universal minimum wages in Malaysia, Hong Kong and the UK.

The Three-Layer Wage Protection System

Singapore's wage floor is not one number — it is a stack of three policies:

1. Progressive Wage Model (PWM) — sector-specific minimum wages tied to skills and seniority, mandatory for licensing in covered industries.
2. Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) — $1,600/month full-time, $10.50/hour part-time (rising to $1,800/month from 1 July 2026 as announced by MOM). Applies to firms hiring foreign workers as a precondition for foreign worker quotas.
3. Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) — government cash and CPF top-ups for lower-wage Singapore Citizens earning $500–$3,000/month.

The government uses Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS) subsidies to co-fund employer wage increases for workers earning below $3,000/month, softening the cost of compliance for SMEs.

What Is the Progressive Wage Model?

The PWM was introduced in 2012 starting with the cleaning sector. By 2026 it covers:

• Cleaning
• Security
• Landscape
• Lift and escalator maintenance
• Retail
• Food services
• Waste management
• Administrative support (in-house)
• Customer service and operations (in-house)

The PWM is structured as a career ladder: workers must receive Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) training and progress through skill levels to unlock higher wages. Employers in covered sectors cannot simply pay the minimum forever — they must support upward movement, and licensing in sectors like cleaning and security depends on PWM compliance.

2026 PWM Wage Floors by Sector

The numbers below are indicative of the 2026 wage ladder. Always verify the latest figures at mom.gov.sg/pwm before signing contracts.

Cleaning Sector

Security Sector

Security officers also have a regulated overtime cap of 72 hours per month under the PWM, ensuring overtime pay translates into a meaningful gross wage.

Retail Sector

Food Services Sector

Landscape, Lifts and Waste Management

These sectors have their own ladders ranging from around $1,800 for entry-level operatives to $4,000+ for technical supervisors and engineers. Lift and escalator technicians benefit from the steepest progression because of the technical certification required.

The Local Qualifying Salary (LQS)

The LQS is currently $1,600/month for full-time work and $10.50/hour for part-time work. From 1 July 2026, the full-time LQS rises to $1,800/month as confirmed by MOM. It is not a universal minimum wage — it applies only to employers who hire foreign workers. Under the LQS rule, each local employee must be paid at least the LQS (or the hourly equivalent) to count toward the company's local headcount, which determines how many Work Permit or S Pass holders the firm can hire.

This indirectly raises wages for low-wage local workers in firms that depend on foreign labour, particularly in F&B, construction and manufacturing.

Workfare Income Supplement (WIS)

WIS tops up the pay of lower-wage Singapore Citizens. To qualify, you must be a Singapore Citizen aged 30 and above (no minimum age for persons with disabilities), earning between $500 and $3,000/month, working consistently, and living in a property with annual value not exceeding $21,000.

Maximum annual WIS in 2026:

Around 10% is paid in cash and 90% goes into MediSave for employees. Self-employed persons receive 10% cash and 90% to MediSave after declaring net trade income to IRAS and contributing to MediSave.

NWC Wage Guidelines

Each year the National Wages Council (NWC) publishes non-binding wage guidelines that influence collective agreements and government-linked employer pay. In recent cycles the NWC has recommended built-in wage increases of 5.5%–7.5% for lower-wage workers earning below $2,500/month, with a recommended dollar floor (e.g., $90–$110 minimum quantum). Most unionised firms and government-linked companies follow these guidelines closely.

How Singapore Compares With the Region

In nominal dollar terms, Singapore's PWM floors for cleaners and food service assistants ($1,700–$1,850/month) sit well above Malaysia's universal minimum but below UK and Australian floors. Singapore counters with universal CPF contributions, MediShield Life, housing grants and Workfare, which lift the effective floor for citizens beyond the headline wage.

Who Is Not Covered

Several groups remain outside any wage floor:

• Migrant Domestic Workers — wages set by bilateral agreements ($570–$650/month is typical).
• Platform workers (food delivery, ride-hail) — covered by the Platform Workers Act for CPF and injury but no minimum fare/rate.
• Freelancers, tutors, gig workers — set their own rates.
• Senior managers and PMETs above $4,500/month — relied on by the market and individual contracts; the Employment Act applies but PWM does not.

Practical Tips for Workers and Employers

For workers: check whether your job sits inside a PWM sector at mom.gov.sg/pwm. If your wage is below the published floor, you can raise this with your employer or contact the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM). If you earn under $3,000/month, log in to the Workfare portal to confirm you are receiving WIS payouts.

For employers: PWM compliance is a licensing condition for cleaning, security, landscape and lift sectors — non-compliance can lead to licence suspension. The Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS) co-funds qualifying wage increases for resident workers earning gross monthly wages of up to $3,000, reducing the net cost of moving workers up the ladder.

Bottom Line

Singapore's wage floor is not a single number — it is a layered system. The PWM sets sector minimums tied to skills, the LQS forces firms hiring foreigners to pay locals at least $1,600/month, and Workfare tops up lower-wage citizens by up to $4,200/year. For most workers, the practical floor in 2026 is somewhere between $1,600 and $2,200/month depending on industry, plus CPF and Workfare on top.

Use the Income Tax Calculator to see your take-home pay after CPF and tax, or the CPF Contribution Calculator to model contributions on PWM-level wages.