Singapore legislation raises bar for cleaning companies, requiring licensing, training, fair wages

by Brianna Crandall — April 14, 2014—Singapore is again leading the way for other cities and continuing its reputation as one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the world, this time with its new Environmental Public Health (EPH) Amendment Bill, which came into effect April 1. The legislation requires cleaning businesses in Singapore to be licensed within five months of the provisions coming into effect, with a deadline of September 1, 2014.

The licensing regime requires all general cleaning businesses—even if these services form only part of their overall business—to have mandatory written employment contracts, to provide training, and to implement the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) in order to ensure that cleaners receive wages that are commensurate with their skills, training and productivity.

An estimated 55,000 resident cleaners will benefit from these requirements, and service buyers and consumers can look forward to more reliable and better quality cleaning services as the program raises the productivity, professionalism and the service standards of the cleaning industry, says Singapore’s National Environment Agency.

NEA Chief Executive Officer Ronnie Tay explained, “The cleaning industry is large and fragmented, and characterized by cheap-sourcing practices which have discouraged wage, skills and productivity improvements. High attrition of cleaners also makes it difficult to attract and retain staff. The new licensing regime will incentivize businesses to improve standards and productivity, and also help to enhance the professionalism and image of the cleaning industry.”