Wage increase, professional development for social services sector
MSF says social services professionals can expect a pay increase of between 3 to 19 per cent. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong
SINGAPORE — Social services professionals can expect a pay increase of between 3 to 19 per cent this year, in an effort to professionalise and enhance attractiveness of the industry.
Social and Family Development Minister Mr Chan Chun Sing today (March 13) announced that his ministry will increase funding support for voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) by S$16m from April, of which S$12m is to be channeled to raising the wages of social service professionals.
While wages been “improved” since the last salary adjustment in 2012, increase have not been consistent within the sector, Mr Chan said.
Beyond remuneration, the ministry will also strengthen training and professional development for social workers.
For instance, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will work with the family services sector to implement a Code of Social Work Practice to be implemented across all social services organisations to ensure common professional standards.
A Social Service Fellowship will also be launched later this year to recognise the top echelon of social service professionals and tap on their expertise to improve service standards. Up to 50 fellows will be appointed by 2017.
Other initiatives to enhance service capacity among VWOs announced today include a S$6m Corporate Development Funding Scheme.
Under the scheme, each VWO will be awarded between S$150,000 to S$300,000 a year to hire 3 to 5 experienced professionals from the finance, Information Technology and human resource sectors, to help them comply with complex corporate governance requirements.
