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AsiaOne
11-08-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
More than 53,000 retail workers to see wage increase of at least $130 from Sept 1, Singapore News
Over 53,000 retail workers can expect an increase in wages effective Sept 1, the Tripartite Cluster for Retail (TCR) announced on Monday (Aug 11). The new set of progressive wage model (PWM) recommendations for the retail sector includes an increase of at least $130. The PWM was first introduced in 2022. From Sept 1, retail workers will earn at least the entry-level PWM wage of $2,305, up from the existing wage of $2,175. From 2025 to 2027, the baseline monthly gross wages will increase from $2,305 to $2,565. Retail workers can expect a year-on-year increase of up to $160 in the next three years. Under the PWM, employers must pay at least the PWM wage to eligible workers for their job level and meet the PWM training requirements for eligible workers, according to the Ministry of Manpower. The PWM recommendations involve a "two plus one year" schedule of wage increases approach, which translates to fixed annual wage increments between Sept 1, 2025 and Aug 31, 2028. Both full-time and part-time retail staff will receive these increments, amounting to $130 to $160 per year, from Sept 1, 2025 until Aug 31, 2028. The third-year wage adjustment is subject to review due to the uncertain economic outlook. The recommended PWM baseline gross wages for full-time resident retail workers, excluding overtime pay, will begin at the current gross wage and see a year-on-year increase of $130 per month. "As the retail sector transforms and faces headwinds, so must our approach to helping our retail workers adapt and make progress in their career and wages," TCR chair and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling said. "In addition to raising wages for retail workers, the recommendations also help to build the foundation for a stronger and more future-ready retail workforce." A changing, challenging landscape The PWM recommendations are part of a "sustained national effort to uplift lower-wage workers" and ensure fair compensation for their skills and contribution, the statement said. They come amid a "challenging landscape" for the retail sector, where brick-and-mortar shops are experiencing shrinking footfall due to growing competition from e-commerce platforms and overseas retail alternatives. The upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link set for 2026 is also a cause for concern for local retail. Businesses also face rising operational costs, manpower shortages and evolving customer expectations, NTUC added. To tackle these changes, aside from increased PWM wages, the TCR has also recommended refining job roles and descriptions. These updates will incorporate expectations such as increased use of digital tools and technologies and a greater emphasis on customer service delivery, as well as a clearer distinction between supervisory roles. The TCR also recommends expanding the list of approved workforce skills qualification (WSQ) training modules across all job levels. Qualifications from institutes of higher learning such as polytechnics and ITEs will also be recognised as meeting PWM training requirements. A whole-of-society support effort is also needed to uplift lower-wage workers in the retail sector, according to TCR. Under their recommendations, employers are encouraged to invest in workforce training and productivity improvements, while consumers can play their part by supporting local retailers. [[nid:718461]] khooyihang@
Business Times
11-08-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore retail workers will get progressive wage model hike of at least S$130 from September
[SINGAPORE] A new set of progressive wage model (PWM) recommendations for the retail sector were announced by the Tripartite Cluster for Retail (TCR) industry on Monday (Aug 11). The recommendations will mean that retail workers will have a PWM wage increase of at least S$130 from when the new recommendations take effect on Sep 1. The PWM recommendations were first unveiled in 2022, which had set a three-year schedule of sustained PWM wage increases till 2024. They were submitted by the tripartite partners – the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore National Employers Federation. These recommendations aim to raise wages, strengthen career progression and support skills upgrading for retail workers in Singapore. They will cover more than 53,000 retail workers on the island. Enhancements include improvements to the PWM wage schedule, career ladder and training requirements. For example, the recommended PWM baseline gross wages for a full-time retail assistant will rise from S$2,175 to S$2,305 per month as at Sep 1, 2025, to S$2,435 the year after and S$2,565 from September 2027. Job roles and descriptions across the retail PWM have also been recommended to be refined, incorporating aspects such as the expectation of an increased use of digital tools. The TCR also recommended an expansion of the approved workforce skills qualification training modules. TCR chair and NTUC assistant secretary-general Yeo Wan Ling said: 'As the retail sector transforms and faces headwinds, so must our approach to helping our retail workers adapt and make progress in their career and wages.' The recommendations come amid falling footfall for brick-and-mortar shops as e-commerce and overseas retail competition intensifies, said an NTUC statement. They also arrive before the launch of the Johor Bahru-Singapore rapid transit system link in December 2026. The fast shuttle link between the two cities will make it more convenient for Singapore residents capitalising on the ringgit exchange rate to shop in Johor Bahru. Retail businesses are also facing rising operational costs, manpower shortages, and evolving customer expectations driven by omni-channel shopping behaviours, said the statement.
AsiaOne
13-07-2025
- General
- AsiaOne
PCF holds family day event to celebrate SG60, sets new Singapore Book of Records, Singapore News
The PAP Community Foundation (PCF) held their annual family day event at the Singapore Expo today (July 13) in celebration of Singapore's 60th year of independence. Held under the theme Bridging Generations, Inspiring Our Future, the event saw over 4,000 participants in attendance - a mix of seniors, educators and children from PCF's service arms - with 2,025 taking part in the PCF SG60 jigsaw puzzle challenge and setting a new Singapore Book of Records. The record for the largest number of people to complete a jigsaw puzzle was previously held by 1,716 individuals at Ci Yuan Community Centre. PCF Family Day 2025 Chairperson Yeo Wan Ling said the puzzle represents what PCF stands for. "Just like pieces of a puzzle, each of us plays a unique and important role in our community. When we work closely together, we create something stronger, something wholesome," she said during her opening speech. "That is what PCF has been doing across generations, across all these decades, helping families come together in new and meaningful ways, building the Singapore that we know and love today." Guest-of-Honour Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted that family support is "no longer just about supporting young parents with children". He explained: "Our society is getting older. We have many more seniors in our midst. And you can see this around us… When we talk about family support these days, we also have to pay attention to supporting our seniors as well as their care given. "And that's why we started work on this through Healthier SG and Age Well SG - national initiatives to ensure that our seniors stay healthy for as long as possible, keep active, stay engaged and also ensure a good living environment for them to continue to live their golden years with dignity." PM Wong added that in time to come, the public can expect PCF to also have more active-aging and senior care centres and communities across the island. PCF also held parenting conference workshops at the event, and donated $60,000 to charitable organisations across key social sectors: seniors, children, low-income families, single mothers and those in need of mental health support. [[nid:720112]] syarifahsn@ No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Independent Singapore
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Independent Singapore
Grab faces pushback from NTUC over incentive changes, delays implementation
SINGAPORE – Ride-hailing platform Grab has postponed changes to driver incentive schemes, following mounting feedback from full-time drivers and the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) that the new structure could destabilise earnings. The revision, originally set to take effect on July 1, would have seen Grab roll out Streak Zones islandwide — a feature allowing drivers to pre-book two-hour high-demand time slots where all bookings are auto-accepted. For every trip completed during these sessions, drivers were promised 5 per cent cashback, paid out the next day. Grab had argued the move would improve driver cash flow and better match supply with peak-hour demand. The 5% incentive was to be drawn from Grab's own internal budget — not passenger fares, as part of a wider restructuring of the monthly bonus scheme. Under the revised plan, lower-tier drivers would have seen their cash bonuses slashed or removed altogether, while top-tier drivers completing 651 or more rides monthly could earn up to 21 per cent in bonuses, lowered from the current 701-trip threshold. See also Pritam Singh says "sparks will fly" come elections Pushback from the ground The announcement triggered pushback from drivers, unions, and MPs alike. In a June 23 Facebook post , NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and MP Yeo Wan Ling cautioned that the changes risked leaving many full-time drivers worse off. 'The added complexity makes it harder for drivers to work out whether they'll be better off compared to the previous structure,' she noted, also highlighting concerns over whether all drivers would have fair access to limited Streak Zone slots. The NPHVA further warned that many drivers rely on these monthly bonuses to supplement base fares and meet income goals. Those completing between 300 and 650 rides monthly, which is a common range among full-timers, were poised to be hit hardest by the revisions. In a joint statement with Grab on June 25, the NPHVA confirmed that the company would pause the implementation of its new structure to ensure 'drivers' concerns are fully addressed before rolling out further changes.' Dialogue reopened Grab said it remains committed to working with the NPHVA and driver-partners to co-develop incentive programmes that balance flexibility, sustainability, and fairness. 'We will continue to engage our partners through feedback sessions and constructive dialogue,' the company said, noting a session had already been scheduled for June 26. The NPHVA echoed that it would continue advocating for drivers' interests, especially regarding income predictability and access to incentives. Next steps? As the ride-hailing landscape evolves, drivers have grown increasingly vocal about structural changes that impact their earnings, especially amid rising operational costs and economic uncertainty. While Grab positioned Streak Zones as a way to reward performance and address high-demand gaps, the latest reversal underscores the importance of consultation and transparency with gig workers when reshaping income models in the platform economy. With the July 1 changes now on hold, the ball is back in the court of collaborative negotiation, a timely reminder that Singapore's ride-hailing industry runs not just on algorithms, but on the real livelihoods of those behind the wheel.
AsiaOne
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- AsiaOne
National private-hire drivers' group calls on Grab to hold off change in bonus scheme, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — The National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) has asked ride-hailing platform Grab to delay the roll-out of changes to its incentive schemes slated for July 1 "for further deliberation". In an in-app message to drivers at 2pm on June 20, Grab announced that from July 1, Streak Zones would be available to all its partner drivers, along with revisions to the existing monthly bonus scheme. Streak Zones was previously trialled from May 2024. It allows drivers to pre-book two-hour time slots where they drive in high-demand areas, during which all their bookings are automatically accepted. These slots are mostly during peak periods. Drivers earn a cashback of five per cent on every completed trip. "Payouts are made the next day, improving cash flow for driver-partners," Grab told The Straits Times. However, NPHVA is concerned that the changes would result in reduced earnings of most full-time drivers, said Yeo Wan Ling, adviser to the association, in a Facebook post on June 23. Grab's monthly bonus scheme, previously called Grab Streak Bonus, has three levels, each with its own bonus structure. The more trips a driver completes in a month, the higher the percentage bonus on their earnings, with rates increasing across tiers and trip milestones. From July 1, the percentage bonuses will also be cut. For instance, the bonus for the 300th to 499th rides, which now starts at eight per cent for drivers in the lowest level, will be slashed to four per cent. Currently, those who clock at least 300 rides also earn a cash bonus of $30, $80 or $100, depending on their incentive level. But from July 1, drivers in the lowest incentive levels will not receive this cash bonus, while this is also cut for the next two tiers to $30 and $50 respectively. However, those in the highest level who complete 651 or more rides can still earn up to 21 per cent in bonuses, down from the 701 rides needed in the current scheme. Weekly bundle bonuses ranging from $25 to $68 will also be given to drivers who complete more Streak Zones. Yeo, who is also assistant secretary-general of National Trades Union Congress and an MP for Punggol GRC, said these changes make earnings less predictable. "The added complexity makes it harder for drivers to work out whether they'll be better off compared to the previous structure," she said. NPHVA reiterated its call for Grab to have "more meaningful consultation" with the association before making changes that affect driver earnings, Yeo added. She also said there is no assurance for drivers that there will be sufficient Streak Zones slots available for everyone. In response, Grab told ST that its decision to reallocate funds from its monthly bonus scheme to expand Streak Zones would ensure sufficient slots for those who wish to participate. Grab did not respond to ST's query on whether it will delay the launch of the new Streak Zones feature. The ride-hailing operator said this move will enhance drivers' earnings, while enabling the platform to better match driver supply to time periods and areas with higher unmet demand. It said that the change will better support part-time drivers who are on the road for a few hours each day, and reward full-time drivers for their commitment. Grab said the Streak Zones feature was co-created with its driver-partners through small-scale trials and focus group discussions. Improvements were made based on drivers' feedback, such as cutting Streak Zone slots from three to two hours, and shortening the required durations of staying online from 85 per cent to 70 per cent of the slot. In comments on Yeo's post, some drivers called for higher base fares and a more transparent pricing system, as well as to completely remove such incentive schemes. Grab has initiated a feedback session with its drivers on June 26 to discuss the change in its bonus scheme. [[nid:718772]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
