NWC recommends 6% to 8% pay rises for lower-wage workers, highest since 2021

Lower-wage workers in Singapore could receive built-in wage increases of 6 per cent to 8 per cent under the National Wages Council (NWC) guidelines for 2026/2027, the highest recommended range since quantitative wage guidelines were introduced in 2021.

The Government accepted the guidelines on Monday (Oct 19), which will apply from Dec 1, 2026, to Nov 30, 2027. The recommendations for lower-wage workers apply to employees earning a gross monthly wage of up to $2,800.

The recommendations reflect Singapore's stronger-than-expected economic performance and continued productivity growth, while allowing employers to calibrate wage increases according to their business performance and prospects.

Under the guidelines, employers that have done well and have positive business prospects should provide lower-wage workers with a built-in wage increase at the higher end of the 6 per cent to 8 per cent range, or at least $135 to $170, whichever is higher.

Employers that have performed well but face uncertain business prospects are encouraged to provide increases around the middle of the recommended range.

For employers that have not performed well but remain profitable, the recommendation is to provide an increase at the lower end of the 6 per cent to 8 per cent range, or at least $120, whichever is higher.

A new fourth category has also been introduced for employers that have not performed well and are unprofitable. These employers are recommended to provide lower-wage workers with a built-in wage increase of at least $120.

The NWC also encourages employers that have done particularly well and have the capacity to do so to provide wage increases above the recommended levels.

"The guidelines recognise that employers have different capacities to raise wages for their lower-wage workers, depending on their business performance and outlook," NWC chairman Hsieh Fu Hua said during a press conference on Monday.

"Even as we continue to push to uplift these workers, we need to provide greater flexibility, and that's why this new fourth category of employers is an important change to the guidelines."

Economy grows 6 per cent in first three quarters

The guidelines come amid stronger-than-expected economic growth, although performance has varied across industries.

Based on advance estimates, Singapore's economy grew by 6 per cent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2026. The Government has projected full-year growth of between 4.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent.

Labour productivity, as measured by real value-added per actual hour worked, rose by 3.8 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while overall unit labour cost fell by 0.8 per cent as productivity growth outpaced the increase in labour costs per worker.

However, growth has been uneven. Sectors benefiting from global demand related to artificial intelligence, including the electronics and precision engineering clusters, performed strongly, while consumer-facing industries such as food and beverage services faced weaker conditions.

The Government has called on employers to provide appropriate wage increases and variable payments to recognise employees' contributions, while taking into account their business performance and prospects.

The NWC also urged employers to take a "positive-leaning" approach to wage increases and reward employees with wage increases and variable payments that are fair and sustainable.

SNEF, NTUC support NWC recommendations

The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) welcomed the recommendations, highlighting the need to balance efforts to raise workers' wages with the differing financial circumstances of businesses.

SNEF also noted that some businesses remain unprofitable and have limited capacity to raise wages, making the new fourth category an important addition to the guidelines.

The federation said it would step up outreach efforts, including employer briefings and industry engagements, to encourage businesses to adopt the recommendations.

SNEF president Kuah Boon Wee said the guidelines recognise the reality of a "K-shaped economy", where business performance and outlook vary significantly across sectors.

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) also welcomed the guidelines, noting that the recommended 6 per cent to 8 per cent built-in wage increase for lower-wage workers is the highest since quantitative wage guidelines were introduced in 2021.

It urged employers to adopt the recommendations and ensure that all workers, including professionals, managers and executives, benefit from Singapore's economic progress and productivity gains.

NTUC also called for continued investment in skills upgrading as artificial intelligence transforms jobs, including providing workers with protected training time to prepare them for changing job demands.

The guidelines are recommendations rather than mandatory wage increases. Employers are encouraged to implement them in a way that reflects their financial performance and business outlook, while continuing efforts to uplift lower-wage workers.

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com

根据新加坡国家工资理事会 (NWC) 2026/2027 年的指导方针，新加坡低收入工人可获得 6% 至 8% 的内置工资增长，这是自 2021 年引入量化工资指导方针以来建议的最高范围。

政府于周一（10月19日）接受了这些指导方针，这些方针将从2026年12月1日至2027年11月30日实施。针对低收入工人的建议适用于月总工资不超过2800美元的员工。

这些建议反映了新加坡强于预期的经济表现和持续的生产力增长，同时允许雇主根据其业务表现和前景来调整工资增长幅度。

根据相关规定，经营状况良好且业务前景乐观的雇主应向低收入工人提供固定工资增长，增长幅度应为 6% 至 8% 范围内的较高水平，或至少为 135 美元至 170 美元，以较高者为准。

业绩良好但面临不确定业务前景的雇主，应在建议范围的中间水平附近提供加薪。

对于业绩不佳但仍盈利的雇主，建议将工资提高 6% 到 8% 范围内的较低水平，或者至少提高 120 美元，以较高者为准。

新增的第四类雇主是指那些业绩不佳且无利可图的雇主。建议这类雇主为低收入员工提供至少120美元的固定工资增长。

全国工资委员会还鼓励那些业绩特别好且有能力的雇主提供高于建议水平的工资增长。

“该指导方针承认，雇主提高低收入工人工资的能力各不相同，这取决于他们的经营业绩和前景，”全国工人委员会主席谢福华周一在新闻发布会上表示。

“即便我们继续努力提升这些劳动者的地位，我们也需要提供更大的灵活性，因此新增的第四类雇主是对指导方针的一项重要改变。”

前三个季度经济增长6%

尽管各行业的表现不尽相同，但这些指导方针是在经济增长强于预期的情况下出台的。

根据初步估计，新加坡经济在2026年前三个季度同比增长6%。政府预测全年增长率将在4.5%至5.5%之间。

2026 年上半年，劳动生产率（以每实际工作小时的实际增加值衡量）同比增长 3.8%，而单位劳动力成本总体下降 0.8%，因为生产率增长超过了每位工人劳动力成本的增长。

然而，增长并不均衡。受益于全球人工智能相关需求的行业，例如电子和精密工程产业集群，表现强劲；而食品饮料服务等面向消费者的行业则面临较为疲软的局面。

政府呼吁雇主提供适当的工资增长和浮动奖金，以表彰员工的贡献，同时考虑到企业的业绩和前景。

全国工人委员会还敦促雇主采取“积极导向”的工资增长方式，并以公平、可持续的工资增长和浮动奖金来奖励员工。

新加坡全国职工总会（NTUC）和新加坡全国企业家联合会（SNEF）支持全国工人委员会（NWC）的建议

新加坡全国雇主联合会（SNEF）对这些建议表示欢迎，并强调需要在提高工人工资的努力与企业不同的财务状况之间取得平衡。

SNEF 还指出，一些企业仍然无利可图，提高工资的能力有限，因此新增的第四类是该指导方针的重要补充。

该联合会表示，将加大宣传力度，包括向雇主进行情况介绍和开展行业交流，以鼓励企业采纳这些建议。

新加坡全国企业家联合会主席郭文伟表示，这些指导方针承认“K型经济”的现实，即不同行业的企业业绩和前景存在显著差异。

全国职工总会（NTUC）也对这些指导方针表示欢迎，并指出，建议低收入工人的内置工资增长幅度为 6% 至 8%，这是自 2021 年引入量化工资指导方针以来最高的增长幅度。

它敦促雇主采纳这些建议，确保所有员工，包括专业人士、经理和高管，都能从新加坡的经济进步和生产力提高中受益。

全国职工总会还呼吁继续投资技能提升，因为人工智能正在改变工作岗位，包括为工人提供受保护的培训时间，使他们能够适应不断变化的工作需求。

这些指导方针是建议，而非强制性工资增长。鼓励雇主根据自身的财务业绩和业务前景来实施这些方针，同时继续努力提高低收入工人的待遇。

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com