Retail workers eligible for new round of pay increases under Progressive Wage Model
The new schedule will apply to more than 53,000 resident full-time and part-time retail workers from Sep 1, 2025 to Aug 31, 2028, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday (Aug 11).
It is part of the recommendations made by the Tripartite Cluster for Retail (TCR), which also outline an "expanded list of training modules" and recognition of Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) qualifications to meet the minimum training requirements.
The Progressive Wage Model for the retail sector has been in place since Sep 1, 2022. The current wage schedule was set for three years until Aug 31, 2025.
The TCR began its review in 2024 before releasing its recommendations on Monday.
WAGE INCREASES
From Sep 1, eligible entry-level retail workers such as cashiers and retail assistants will see their monthly gross wages increase from S$2,175 (US$1,690) to S$2,305. This baseline wage will rise annually by S$130 to S$2,565 from Sep 1, 2027, in a three-year plan under the Retail PWM.
The hourly wage of entry-level retail workers, which applies to part-timers who work less than 35 hours a week, will also increase accordingly, from S$11.41 to S$12.09 next month, to S$13.45 from Sep 1, 2027.
Under the plan, monthly wages for senior cashiers and senior retail assistants will rise from S$2,395 to S$2,535 next month, then to S$2,680 in 2026, and S$2,820 in 2027.
These workers will receive annual wage increases of either S$140 or S$145, while those who work hourly will see their gross wages rise from S$12.56 to S$13.30 next month, and continue to increase over the following two years.
Meanwhile, assistant retail supervisors will see their monthly wages rise by S$155 in September, S$160 in 2026 and S$150 in 2027, while their hourly wages will climb from S$13.82 to S$16.26 over the three-year period.
The wages in the third year of implementation - starting Sep 1, 2027 - are subject to review in 2026. They may be raised if the economic situation improves, said MOM.
"CHALLENGING" RETAIL ENVIRONMENT
In a statement, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said the recommendations come against a "challenging" backdrop for the retail sector.
"Brick-and-mortar shops are experiencing shrinking footfall due to growing competition from e-commerce platforms and overseas retail alternatives, especially with the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link in 2026," it added.
TCR chair and NTUC assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling also said the recommendations aim to reshape the perceptions of retail jobs and position it as a "dynamic sector with meaningful, long-term career opportunities for Singaporeans".
The recommendations were developed after extensive engagement with key stakeholders, including retail employers, NTUC's affiliated unions, industry associations and workers.
With other factors such as rising operational costs and manpower shortages affecting the local retail sector, NTUC noted that the TCR has taken a "balanced and pragmatic" approach in its recommendations.
"This integrated approach aims to support business sustainability while enabling workers to grow in skills, responsibilities and wages in tandem with industry transformation."
On the increased hourly rates, NTUC also said they help to ensure that part-time workers are fairly compensated based on the same PWM structure as their full-time counterparts.
CO-FUNDING SUPPORT, GREATER RECOGNITION
To help cushion the PWM wage increases, eligible employers will automatically receive co-funding support under the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme (PWCS) until 2026, said MOM.
"The PWCS will co-fund up to 40 per cent of wage increases given to lower-wage workers in 2025, and 20 per cent in 2026."
Under the scheme, which was introduced in 2022, the government pays for part of the wage increase that an employer gives to workers.
MOM said the co-funding will help in alleviating cost pressures while "enabling business to drive transformation efforts to enhance productivity and raise wages sustainably".
The TCR also recommended expanding the list of training modules and recognising qualifications from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to meet the minimum training requirements under the Retail Progressive Wage Model (PWM).
Retail workers who hold relevant qualifications from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), such as Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic, will be recognised as having met the minimum PWM training requirements.
Those who have attained the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) skills subject certificate in retail & e-commerce will also be considered to have fulfilled the requirement.
NTUC noted that the move aims to provide retail workers with more accessible and diverse pathways to meet training requirements, while also acknowledging prior learning and industry-relevant credentials.
"With more recognised training options, workers can upskill more efficiently and confidently pursue career advancement within the sector," it said.
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