When Mr Hamdi Hayee took a job as a cleaning supervisor 16 years ago, he was looking to leave the catering business to reduce contact with food and drink that are forbidden for Muslims to consume, such as alcohol and pork.
But over the years, his wages stagnated at about $1,000 a month and finances were tight.
Mr Hamdi, 62, said: "I had to be careful with what I spent on." Things like holidays and meals in restaurants were luxuries for his family. His wife also works in cleaning, and their two sons were still in school at the time.
But this started to change 10 years ago, when Singapore adopted a unique strategy known as the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), which sets out sector-specific minimum salary levels, tied to a worker's skills and productivity improvements.
Formulated by the unions in consultation with the Government and private sector, the model was implemented in 2014 and began to push up the salaries of workers that had remained persistently low.
The base salary of Mr Hamdi, who is now a cleaning supervisor at Chye Thiam Maintenance managing 10 other cleaners, has more than doubled to at least $2,455, not including other skill-based allowances.
The Straits Times looks back at Singapore's answer to the minimum wage, which has grown to cover more than 155,000 lower-wage workers across nine sectors and occupations in the past 10 years.
WHAT IS THE PROGRESSIVE WAGE MODEL?
The PWM is first and foremost a wage floor, said Associate Professor Ong Ee Cheng from the National University of Singapore's economics department.
It mandates a minimum wage for workers in certain sectors and occupations. It also sets career pathways where workers will see their salaries grow if they meet stipulated training requirements.
The aim is to uplift the wages of Singaporeans and permanent residents whose salaries are in the bottom 20 per cent of all wages, she said.
This story is from the October 12, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 12, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Team Singapore athletes at Paris Games honoured in Parliament
Olympians and Paralympians 'fought hard in the toughest of arenas', says minister
NTUC central committee unaware of capital reduction plan: Desmond Tan
The labour movement's central committee did not know of the plan to return $1.85 billion to shareholders under the Allianz-Income deal before it was mentioned in Parliament on Oct 14, said NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan.
MPs raise concerns over info sharing, investor confidence
16 MPs speak for four hours on Bill to halt Allianz's planned offer for Income Insurance
New in Oct BTO launch: 'White flats', additional subsidies
The Oct 16 Build-To-Order (BTO) launch will feature several changes that will affect home buyers, including a new way of classifying flats, more options for singles and new open-concept \"white flats\".
Talent, tourists, new hubs: John Lee lays out ambitious HK revival plan
Given the myriad priority areas, analysts wonder if his economic measures lack focus
Prime, Plus flats launched with 6% to 9% subsidy clawback clause
They are among 8,573 homes offered for sale under new flat classification system
Parliament passes Bill enabling Govt to block Allianz-Income deal
The minister in charge of Singapore's financial regulator will have powers to block deals involving insurers that are run or substantially owned by cooperatives after Parliament passed new laws on Oct 16.
K-pop boy band Riize's Seunghan leaves two days after return
SEOUL - Just two days after announcing that he was rejoining K-pop boy band Riize, South Korean singer Seunghan (right) said on Oct 14 that he is leaving the group.
Stefanie Sun's concert tour kicks off in 2025
The decade-long wait for fans of Stefanie Sun will be over soon.
Theatre actor Shahid Nasheer hailed as bright talent of his generation
Theatre actor Shahid Nasheer died on the evening of Oct 14 at Gleneagles Hospital, following complications while being treated for leukaemia. He was 28.
