ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Cleaning businesses in Singapore will have to be licensed within five months of the Environmental Public Health (EPH) Amendment Bill coming into force. This is expected to happen in April.

The licensing regime will require cleaning companies to have mandatory written employment contracts, to provide training and to implement the Progressive Wage Model (PWM).

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said this is to ensure cleaners receive wages that commensurate with their skills, training and productivity. It is estimated that 55,000 cleaners will benefit.

Businesses offering cleaning services at premises or any public spaces will need to be licensed, while companies dealing in specialised cleaning are exempt. Those that do fall under the new regulations will have to be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Singapore or the Registry of Societies and show relevant experience.

NEA said cleaning businesses should have at least 50 per cent of their staff trained in at least one module within the Singapore Workforce Development Agency's WSQ?Environmental Cleaning (EC) Framework at the point of the first application.

At the time of licence renewal, 100 per cent of their staff should be trained.

Cleaning firms operating with a valid licence will be subject to a fine, as will clients who buy their services.