National Wages Council seeks public’s views on salary, employment guidelines

The National Wages Council (NWC) is inviting public input to create its annual guidelines on salaries and employment matters, with the goal of releasing the guidelines by the end of October. The guidelines will cover the period from December 1, 2026, to November 30, 2027, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

The NWC will consider factors such as Singapore's economic competitiveness, labor market conditions, inflation, productivity growth, and the global economic outlook when developing the guidelines, as stated in an MOM release on August 7. Those interested in providing feedback and suggestions can submit their comments through the online portal at go.gov.sg/nwc2627publicfeedback before August 19.

The council aims to set forth annual guidance on the range of progressive wage growth for lower-wage workers, known as the Progressive Wage Model. This wage ladder is connected to skill and productivity improvements for lower-wage employees in selected sectors, including cleaning and security. Wage floors within each rung of the model increase according to a predetermined schedule.

Comprising government officials, employers, and employees, the NWC is led by Peter Seah, the chairman of DBS Bank and Singapore Airlines. Real wages in Singapore grew by 4% in 2025, adjusted for inflation, compared to 3.2% in 2024, as per MOM's wage practices report published in May. MOM anticipates continued positive wage growth but predicts that firms will adopt a more cautious approach to pay increases due to global uncertainty and inflationary pressures.