NWC recommends 6% to 8% pay rises for lower-wage workers in its 2027 guidelines
· Keith Kwai
On 19 October, the National Wages Council recommended that employers give lower-wage workers earning up to S$2,800 a month built-in pay rises of 6% to 8% for the period from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027, up from last year’s 5.5% to 7.5%. Firms that performed well should give rises at the higher or middle end of the range, or at least S$135 to S$170, whichever is higher, while profitable firms that did not do well should give the lower end or at least S$120; a new category lets unprofitable firms give a rise of at least S$120. The government has accepted the guidelines, and MOM noted they are not a mandatory minimum wage.
Because NWC guidelines are not a minimum wage, WorkRightSG, a sister site, explains how the Progressive Wage Model sets sector wage floors.
Source: The Business Times, 19 Oct 2026 — Read the original