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Singapore’s restructuring of low-wage work: Have cleaning job conditions improved?

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  • Irene YH Ng
  • Yi Ying Ng
  • Poh Choo Lee

Abstract

Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model, introduced in 2012 and mandatory in the cleaning industry since 2015, is a skills- and productivity-based approach to redesigning jobs and restructuring wages in the largely outsourced cleaning, security and landscaping sectors. Focusing on cleaning work in the food and beverage industry, this case study examines some early outcomes of this national drive to reduce wage inequality by improving the pay and conditions of commodified work in a sector subject to outsourcing-based cost competition. Based on interviews with cleaners, supervisors and managers, the findings suggest that in general, government and the trade union and employers’ association have worked together, to set wages and conditions transparently. Nevertheless, enforcement issues mean that cleaners remain vulnerable. They have limited information about their employment benefits and face various types of poor conditions, some sanctioned by and others in violation of labour laws. These vulnerabilities have structural roots, including rent imbalances and cheap sourcing, factors that commodify jobs. The implementation of the Progressive Wage Model may have helped de-commodify cleaning jobs for Singaporeans and permanent residents, but such outcomes are still dependent on non-systemic and unenforceable factors such as the kindness of individual supervisors. While a promising start has been made, Singapore’s initial efforts to improve incomes and conditions in low-wage work will nevertheless require stronger regulatory commitment. JEL Codes: I38, J31, J48, &58, J88

Suggested Citation

  • Irene YH Ng & Yi Ying Ng & Poh Choo Lee, 2018. "Singapore’s restructuring of low-wage work: Have cleaning job conditions improved?," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 29(3), pages 308-327, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:29:y:2018:i:3:p:308-327
    DOI: 10.1177/1035304618782558
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jérôme Gautié & Schmitt John, 2010. "Low-Wage Work in the Wealthy World," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00464352, HAL.
    2. repec:ilo:ilowps:485017 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Tat Hui, Weng & Toh, Ruby., 2014. "Growth with equity in Singapore : challenges and prospects," ILO Working Papers 994850173402676, International Labour Organization.
    4. Wayne Lewchuk, 2017. "Precarious jobs: Where are they, and how do they affect well-being?," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 28(3), pages 402-419, September.
    5. Chris F Wright, 2013. "The response of unions to the rise of precarious work in Britain," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 24(3), pages 279-296, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Irene Y. H. Ng & Zhi Han Tan & Vincent Chua & Annie Cheong, 2022. "Separate Lives, Uncertain Futures: Does Covid-19 Align or Differentiate the Lives of Low- and Higher-Wage Young Workers?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(6), pages 3349-3380, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Food and beverage cleaners; job conditions; outsourcing; precarious work; Singapore; vulnerable workers; wage restructure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J48 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Particular Labor Markets; Public Policy
    • J88 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Public Policy

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