Over 53,000 food services workers to get further pay increases from Jul. 1 under Progressive Wage Model

Food services workers in Singapore will receive further wage increases from Jul. 1 under an updated Progressive Wage Model (PWM), with entry-level monthly pay set to rise to at least S$2,220, according to a Ministry of Manpower press release on March 16, 2026.

The increase, announced after the government accepted recommendations by the Tripartite Cluster for Food Services Industry, will benefit more than 53,000 full-time and part-time workers across the sector, including stall assistants, cooks, waiters and kitchen staff.

Revised wage

Under the revised wage schedule, the minimum gross monthly wage for entry-level workers will rise from the current S$2,080 to S$2,220 from Jul. 1, 2026, before increasing each year to reach S$2,500 by July 2028.

Most workers covered by the scheme will receive annual wage increases of S$140 over the next three years, while workers in higher-tier roles such as waiter supervisors will see yearly increments of S$145.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the revised wage schedule will run from Jul. 1 each year between 2026 and 2028, aligning implementation with most other PWM sectors.

This will also allow employers with workers across multiple sectors to better manage compliance.

Second wage increase

This marks the second set of scheduled wage increases since the food services PWM was introduced in March 2023.

Earlier wage adjustments from 2023 to 2025 raised entry-level monthly wages from S$1,750 to S$2,080.

For full-time workers currently earning the baseline wage, the latest changes translate to annual pay increases of up to 6.7 per cent.

Under the revised schedule, entry-level food or drink stall assistants would move from S$2,080 this year to S$2,500 by July 2028.

The revised schedule also includes higher hourly wage requirements, with corresponding increases across part-time roles covered under the PWM.

Balancing wage growth with industry pressures

Speaking during a visit to Swensen’s Unlimited at Changi Airport Terminal 2, as reported by The Straits Times, Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash said the wage increases were calibrated after discussions between the government, unions and employers, taking into account "current economic conditions".

He said the aim remains to narrow wage gaps for lower-wage workers and prevent earnings at the lower end from falling too far behind median wage growth.

He said: “What we don’t want to see is a divergence between the wages that the lowest of our workers are earning vis-a-vis the rest of Singaporean workers.

Training pathways broadened

Alongside wage increases, the tripartite cluster also recommended expanding the list of Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) modules that food services workers can take to meet mandatory PWM training requirements.

Workers currently need to complete two approved WSQ modules under the PWM framework.

Under the updated arrangements, relevant qualifications obtained from Institutes of Higher Learning and private education institutions will also be recognised as meeting minimum training requirements.

The government also said lower-wage workers in the sector can tap enhanced support under the Workfare Skills Support scheme.

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