NTUC Launches “Appreciating Our PWM Workers” Campaign To Rally Greater Recognition For Essential Workers

~ Comic Book Launch Event Gives Singaporeans A Closer Look At PWM In Action ~

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) today launched the “Appreciating Our PWM Workers” campaign, a public movement to encourage Singaporeans to better recognise and appreciate the thousands of Progressive Wage Model (PWM) workers who keep Singapore clean, safe and running every day.

The campaign comes as the PWM has improved wages, skills, productivity and career progression for lower-wage workers; and there is a need to foster greater public respect and appreciation for workers who often perform critical roles behind the scenes. Launched at Heartbeat@ Bedok on 19 July 2026, Sunday, by NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Melvin Yong, and graced by Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash as Guest-of-Honour, the campaign aims to spotlight and appreciate workers across the eight PWM sectors, including cleaning, security, landscape maintenance, food services, retail, waste management, lift & escalator maintenance and pest management.

“Appreciating Our PWM Workers” Campaign – Valuing Our Every Day Heroes

The “Appreciating Our PWM Workers” campaign is an NTUC-led initiative that seeks to encourage greater public recognition and appreciation for workers covered under the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). Every day, these workers support the lives of Singaporeans through essential services ranging from cleaning and security, to waste management, retail and food services.

While PWM has helped to improve wages, skills, productivity and career progression opportunities for lower-wage workers, meaningful progress also requires a society that values the people behind these essential roles. Through a series of public engagement activities, the campaign aims to help Singaporeans better understand the experiences, aspirations and contributions of PWM workers, and foster a more caring and inclusive society where every worker feels valued and respected.

Mr Melvin Yong, Director of the NTUC Care Division and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, said “PWM workers play an indispensable role in our daily lives, yet many of their contributions often go unnoticed. Over the years, PWM has helped raise wages and strengthen career progression for lower-wage workers. But building a more inclusive society also requires us to value and respect the people behind these essential jobs. Through this campaign, NTUC hopes to encourage Singaporeans to show greater appreciation for the workers who help keep our communities clean, green, safe and functioning every day.”

Appreciating the People and Innovations Behind PWM

The launch event held at Heartbeat@ Bedok also featured a PWM Showcase, featuring exhibits by industry partners that spotlight the four pillars of the PWM framework, wage progression, skills upgrading, career advancement and productivity improvements. The showcase highlights how workers, unions and employers can work together to build better jobs and career pathways.

Visitors at the event could learn more about the essential services provided by industry partners from pest management companies EcoSpace Pte Ltd and Servcare Pte Ltd, while Hivebotics demonstrated how toilet autonomous cleaning technology can help workers improve efficiency and take on higher-value roles. The exhibition also featured NTUC’s e2i and NTUC LearningHub, where visitors could explore PWM Career pathways, training opportunities and job openings through e2i’s Cart-A-Job kiosk. Interactive activities such as a public appreciation video-phone booth and a "Match a Ladder" challenge were also organised to help visitors better understand the Progressive Wage Model and the workers it supports.

Catching a Glimpse of PWM Workers’ Lives in the “Please Watch-over Me” Comic Book

As part of the campaign, NTUC also unveiled the “Please Watch-over Me” Singapore’s first comic book dedicated to PWM workers. Developed with renowned local comic artist Johnny Lau, creator of the iconic Mr Kiasu series, the publication draws on real-life workers experiences to give Singaporeans a glimpse into the lives of workers in PWM sectors whose contributions are often seen but seldom fully understood. The title is a play on the acronym "PWM", reflecting how these workers quietly watch over Singapore through their daily work. NTUC hopes the publication will foster greater empathy and appreciation for the people behind many of Singapore's essential services.