Committee of Supply 2024 debate, Day 4: Zaqy Mohamad on supporting low-wage workers

Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said the Government has been working closely together with employers and unions to support the advancement of low-wage workers in a sustainable manner. In Parliament on Monday (Mar 4), he said today more than 155,000 low-wage workers across nine sectors and occupations are covered by the Progressive Wage Model. He said this is more than five times the coverage since 2020. In addition, more than 105,000 low-wage workers are covered by the Local Qualifying Salary requirement. Mr Zaqy said the Government will continue to provide low-wage workers additional support through Workfare to complement progressive wage efforts. From 2025, the qualifying monthly income cap will be raised further from S$2,500 to S$3,000. On workplace safety, Mr Zaqy said in 2023, the workplace fatal injury rate fell to 0.9 per 100,000 workers. It is the first time the rate has fallen below one per 100,000 workers. It puts Singapore among the top performers of workplace safety and health in the world, he said.