Singapore wage guidelines and unpaid work trends

The National Wages Council (NWC) has recommended pay increases of 6% to 8%, or at least S$120, for lower-wage workers in Singapore earning up to S$2,800 a month. The new guidelines, effective from December 1, 2026, to November 30, 2027, introduce a specific category for unprofitable businesses to help them meet wage growth requirements during economic difficulties.

Profitable companies are expected to provide higher increases, ranging from S$135 to S$170. While the guidelines are accepted by the government, they are not mandatory. The move follows a period where only about a quarter of employers fully adopted previous recommendations.

Separately, a survey by ADP revealed that 45% of workers in Singapore perform at least six unpaid hours per week, a figure higher than the global average of 38%. The data shows that knowledge workers are particularly affected, with 51% reporting significant unpaid hours. Unpaid work is most prevalent in medium-sized organizations with 250 to 999 employees.