“What is the minimum wage in Singapore?” has a surprising answer: there isn’t a universal one. Singapore deliberately avoids a single national minimum wage, using a sector-based system instead. This guide explains how pay floors actually work in 2026, through the Progressive Wage Model, the Local Qualifying Salary, and work pass salary rules.
Quick answer: Singapore has no universal statutory minimum wage. Instead, it uses the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), which sets wage ladders for specific sectors, and the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS), now S$1,800 a month, which employers must pay locals to count them toward foreign-worker quotas. Low-wage workers are topped up by Workfare. Work passes have their own salary floors (from S$5,600 for an EP, S$3,300 for an S Pass).
Does Singapore have a minimum wage?
No. Singapore is one of the few developed economies without a single, across-the-board minimum wage. The government’s view is that a blanket minimum can cost jobs and does not lift skills. Instead, it raises low wages through a targeted mix: the Progressive Wage Model, the Local Qualifying Salary, and Workfare.
So there is no one number, but there are real, enforceable pay floors depending on the sector and situation.
The Progressive Wage Model (PWM)
The PWM is the closest thing to a sector minimum wage. It sets a wage ladder: minimum pay that rises as a worker gains skills and takes on more responsibility, for specific lower-wage sectors.
Sectors and roles covered (2026):
- Cleaning
- Security
- Landscape
- Lift and escalator
- Retail
- Food services
- Waste management
- Administrators and drivers (occupational PWM)
Together the PWM covers well over 150,000 local workers. Employers in these sectors must pay at least the PWM rate for each rung, and those hiring foreign workers need the Progressive Wage (PW) Mark accreditation, which requires paying all eligible local staff progressive wages.
The Local Qualifying Salary (LQS)
The LQS is the minimum an employer must pay local employees for them to count toward the company’s foreign-worker quota. From 1 July 2026, the LQS is S$1,800 a month for a full count (about S$10.50 an hour for part-timers), up from S$1,600.
It is not a universal minimum wage, but in practice it pushes employers who hire foreign workers to pay locals at least S$1,800. See our guide on the S Pass quota, which depends on the LQS.
Workfare: topping up low wages
For lower-wage Singaporean (and PR) workers, the Workfare Income Supplement adds cash and CPF top-ups, provided they meet age, income, and work criteria. It is the government’s way of lifting take-home pay without a statutory minimum. See our guide on the welfare schemes available to PRs.
Work pass salary floors (a different thing)
People sometimes confuse the minimum wage with work pass salary rules. These are separate: they are the minimum you must earn to qualify for a foreign work pass, not a minimum wage for all workers.
|
Pass |
Minimum qualifying salary (2026) |
|
Employment Pass |
From S$5,600/month (S$6,200 financial services) |
|
S Pass |
From S$3,300/month (S$3,800 financial services) |
These rise with age and are scheduled to increase further in January 2027. See our guides on Employment Pass eligibility and the S Pass criteria. Work pass holders who build a stable career here can later apply for Singapore PR.
What this means for you
- Workers: there is no single minimum wage, but if you are in a PWM sector you have an enforceable wage floor that rises with skills, and Workfare may top up low pay.
- Employers: you must meet PWM rates in covered sectors, pay the LQS to count locals toward quotas, and meet work pass salary floors for foreign hires.
How First Immigration can help
If you are an employer navigating work pass salaries, quotas, and the LQS, First Immigration helps you:
- Understand the salary floors for EP, S Pass, and quota purposes.
- Plan hiring so your local workforce supports the quota you need.
- Prepare clean work pass applications.
Explore our Employment Pass and S Pass services, or speak to our consultants through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Singapore?
There is no universal minimum wage. Singapore uses the Progressive Wage Model (sector wage ladders), the Local Qualifying Salary (S$1,800 from July 2026), and Workfare instead.
Why does Singapore not have a minimum wage?
The government prefers a targeted approach (PWM, LQS, Workfare) over a blanket minimum, arguing it protects jobs and rewards skills.
What is the Progressive Wage Model?
A sector-based system that sets minimum wage ladders, rising with skills, for lower-wage sectors like cleaning, security, retail, and food services.
What is the Local Qualifying Salary?
The minimum an employer must pay a local employee for them to count toward the company’s foreign-worker quota. From 1 July 2026 it is S$1,800 a month full-time.
Which sectors are covered by the PWM?
Cleaning, security, landscape, lift and escalator, retail, food services, waste management, plus administrators and drivers.
Is the Local Qualifying Salary a minimum wage?
Not exactly. It only applies to firms hiring foreign workers, as a condition of their quota, but in practice it sets a pay floor for locals at those firms.
What is the minimum salary for a work pass?
From S$5,600 a month for an Employment Pass (S$6,200 financial services) and S$3,300 for an S Pass, rising with age. These are work pass thresholds, not a minimum wage.
Does Workfare help low-wage workers?
Yes. Workfare adds cash and CPF top-ups for eligible lower-wage Singaporean and PR workers who meet the criteria.
