NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

[ac323]

The labour movement is embarking on a progressive wage system to further help low-income workers.

Labour chief Lim Swee Say outlined the concept of progressive wages during a cleaning industry forum on Thursday.

Under this concept, NTUC will set specific targets to lift wages of cleaners to S$1,000, S$1,200 and S$1,500 or more.

For example, the labour movement aims to help some 7,000 cleaners currently getting less than S$1,000 to earn at least S$1,000. They work mostly as cleaners in hawker centres, schools.

For those already earning S$1,000, NTUC wants to lift their wages to S$1,200.

These targets could be met when workers go for skills upgrading and productivity improvements.

Mr Lim said: "Our philosophy, our belief is that every job can be improved in terms of skills, in terms of productivity, in terms of outcomes, in terms of wages."

NTUC aims to help 10,000 cleaners receive higher pay under the progressive wage system.

It wants to reach out to 100,000 low-wage workers in 12 industry clusters by 2015.

The progressive wage system is expected to roll out to other sectors.

Mr Lim said that the progressive wage system will operate under the existing Inclusive Growth Programme and Best Sourcing Initiative.

He believes the progressive wage approach is a pragmatic one and would be better than implementing a minimum wage policy.

The labour chief described minimum wages as "sticky wages", and is concerned if employers choose to keep minimum wage down to remain competitive.

"If we set too low the minimum wage it will not solve the problems faced by the low wage workers. If we impose too high the minimum wage then some of the low wage workers may become unemployable," Mr Lim said

 

[diablo_728]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

Is this bc NTUC doesn't have a cleaning company...how abt setting targets for supermarket cashiers

 

[wt_know]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

so SDP is right advocating minimum wage for low wage worker?

 

[brosiss]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

Is this bc NTUC doesn't have a cleaning company...how abt setting targets for supermarket cashiers

Soon they have because they have ventured into hawker food stall now.. Same story fair price, lowest hawker price... soon they will own hawker centres. Now you know why Garmen said they want to build more hawker centres.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

Looks like we have challenges in attracting cleaners. Financial enticement is necessary.......

The labour movement is embarking on a progressive wage system to further help low-income workers.

Labour chief Lim Swee Say outlined the concept of progressive wages during a cleaning industry forum on Thursday.

Under this concept, NTUC will set specific targets to lift wages of cleaners to S$1,000, S$1,200 and S$1,500 or more.

For example, the labour movement aims to help some 7,000 cleaners currently getting less than S$1,000 to earn at least S$1,000. They work mostly as cleaners in hawker centres, schools.

For those already earning S$1,000, NTUC wants to lift their wages to S$1,200.

These targets could be met when workers go for skills upgrading and productivity improvements.

Mr Lim said: "Our philosophy, our belief is that every job can be improved in terms of skills, in terms of productivity, in terms of outcomes, in terms of wages."

NTUC aims to help 10,000 cleaners receive higher pay under the progressive wage system.

It wants to reach out to 100,000 low-wage workers in 12 industry clusters by 2015.

The progressive wage system is expected to roll out to other sectors.

Mr Lim said that the progressive wage system will operate under the existing Inclusive Growth Programme and Best Sourcing Initiative.

He believes the progressive wage approach is a pragmatic one and would be better than implementing a minimum wage policy.

The labour chief described minimum wages as "sticky wages", and is concerned if employers choose to keep minimum wage down to remain competitive.

"If we set too low the minimum wage it will not solve the problems faced by the low wage workers. If we impose too high the minimum wage then some of the low wage workers may become unemployable," Mr Lim said

 

[newbie88]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

First, they reject all proposals (including Prof Lim who is not with any political party) on raising lower income salary employee as irresponsible ideas... Now they are introducing it as if its their bright ideas.... Oppose for the sake of opposing.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

First, they reject all proposals (including Prof Lim who is not with any political party) on raising lower income salary employee as irresponsible ideas... Now they are introducing it as if its their bright ideas.... Oppose for the sake of opposing.

I think the ideas are different .......Lim suggested 50% pay hike over 3 years irregardless of who you are as long as you are earning $1,500 or below.

And those in middle class have a pay freeze and I do not think he is talking about the ministries but whoever you are.

You can kiss your new BMWs (including mods) good bye should the wage freeze includes bonuses since annualize salaries in the private sector is the typical benchmark used .....

And if you run a business, you would pass this labour cost to the downstream supply chain point. At each point the supply chain (distributors and dealers etc) this cost would be padded so by the time it ripples through to the final consumer it would be quite a bit. Best part is that Singapore has a number of service based industries so a huge cost component is labour costs.

His idea is aimed at reducing the income gap. It has nothing to do with improving your standard of living.

Ok - for those earning $1,500 or less - cheer on. But I don't see how you can be driving a BMW with $1,500 monthly salary so what are you cheering about unless you fall into that catagory......

The way NTUC is doing it is more gradual and has less of an impact.

 

[newbie88]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

I do agree Prof Lim is pretty extreme, however there are definitely some components within his proposal that are worth looking into. Rejecting the entire report is definitely not showing respect to Prof Lim.

I would not mind paying a bit more if it helps in bridging the income gap. I am not earning $1500, but I do think that we should think for those in that bracket. If going by your thought process, IMHO maybe PM should ensure 1DPM to earn high income and 1DPM to earn $1.5k in order to have an inclusive Singapore.

 

[iScoupe]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

No wonder my cleaner charge me extra to clean sperm stains on car seat.

 

[ac323]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

The labour movement's plan to implement a progressive wage system for low-wage workers is aimed at encouraging tripartite partners and Singaporeans to look at low-wage jobs in a different light.

Labour chief Lim Swee Say told the media at a grassroots event that he wants to make today's low-wage jobs into tomorrow's jobs of the future.

He is confident this can be achieved in today's environment, compared with five years ago.

The NTUC will set wage targets for low-wage workers under its progressive wage approach.

Workers who are currently getting less than S$1,000 a month would strive to earn at least S$1,000. For those already earning S$1,000, NTUC wants to lift their wages to S$1,200.

NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say explained that raising the wages of these low-wage workers is just the beginning.

"Not only do we want to help them to up their wages, we also have to do our very best to ensure their wages will go up faster rate than the medium wage.

"Secondly, we should not always look at the low-wages jobs as always a low-wage job, because the other developed countries have done in a very different way and the workers take pride in what they do, the public shows them respect and they earn a very decent salary," Mr Lim added.

The labour movement will kick off public education on the progressive wage structure with the cleaning sector, followed by the security, hospitality and food and beverage sectors.

On the private sector's response to the National Wages Council's recommendation to give a pay rise of S$50 or more for low-wage workers, Mr Lim said it is still too early to judge.

He said the message of helping low-wage workers with a more sustainable pace of wage increase is something that's not fully understood yet by the private sector.

 

[sszone]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

Actually no need to read too much into it.
Setting targets are nice to haves.
Unless they make it into minimum wage thingy, chances are its just a nice sounding advisory.
How many will actually adopt it?

 

[wt_know]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

if a hawker cleaner is earning 1000 now, target is to move him/her up to 1200
how? go for english course and get a certificate? improve customer service by smile more?
learn new kungfu style to collect plates 2x faster?

 

[Arkantos]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

The main cost killer is land/rental. Need to work out a way to reduce the cost factor

 

[wobbles]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

The main cost killer is land/rental. Need to work out a way to reduce the cost factor

How? We have been told time and again, land is scarce in Singapore...

 

[diablo_728]

Re: NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners

actually u can subsidize the rental to essential services. recently there was an idea mooted of having a "community clinics" where several medical GP come together and setup a private "polyclinic" with subsidized rental and special concessions for labour needs but the endpoint would be a that the gp wil charge very close to polyclinic rates....so like wise other essential services can be on govt land with subsidized rates that sad to condition of very low prices.