Local cleaners who are hired by subcontracted cleaning agencies in Singapore will from January 2020 receive a mandatory bonus of at least two weeks' salary.

This is projected to give them a 4 per cent rise in their wages each year.

This is one of several changes to the Environmental Public Health Act that were passed in Parliament on Tuesday (Oct. 2).

They also include greater use of pneumatic waste conveyance systems in Singapore:

However, cleaners who are hired directly by food and beverage establishments or other companies will not be protected under this new legislation.

Foreign cleaners will also not benefit from these new rules because of the associated expenses that already exist for employers, like accommodation and additional levies for hiring foreigners.

These, says Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) Amy Khor, are true but her ministry urges employers who are doing well financially to share their gains with their employees "fairly".

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Regardless of performance

In 2012, what is called the Progressive Wage Model was first mooted to help cleaners grow their salaries.

Under this, cleaners will receive a S$200 increase in their basic pay by 2019, which, according to Channel NewsAsia, translates to an up-to-7 per cent increment from now till 2020, when the bonuses kick in.

These bonuses will be awarded regardless of how well they perform too. The three year buffer period is given for employers to work these new bonuses into existing cleaning contracts with their staff.

Khor said in closing remarks on Oct. 2 that the eligibility, amount and frequency of the bonus will be stipulated by the Commissioner for Labour. Currently, however, the minimum amount recommended is two weeks of the basic monthly wage.

About 40,000 resident cleaners are slated to benefit from the new bonus scheme, which will become a licensing requirement for cleaning businesses, and those who fail to comply will face financial penalties or risk losing their license.

Top photo via Wikipedia.