National Wages Council (NWC) 2026/2027 Guidelines: What Employers Should Know

Source: Press Release

The National Wages Council (NWC) has released its 2026/2027 Guidelines, and the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore is pleased to share the key takeaways with our members.

1. A positive-leaning approach to wage increases
The NWC calls on employers to reward employees fairly and sustainably, so that workers share in productivity gains while businesses stay competitive. Employers are also encouraged to calibrate wage increases to their own firm performance and prospects, given the uneven business outcomes across sectors and firms.

2. Faster wage growth for lower-wage workers (LWWs)
To narrow the gap between LWWs and the median worker over this decade, LWW wages must consistently grow faster than the median wage. This year, with a more positive economic outlook, the NWC sees greater scope for employers who have done well to share their gains. It has also introduced a new category for employers that are unprofitable, balancing continued LWW wage growth with their tighter financial constraints. Please note that these guidelines apply to LWWs only.

3. Investing in transformation and skills, including AI
Employers are encouraged to invest proactively in enterprise and workforce transformation. To harness the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this means adopting AI effectively and responsibly, redesigning jobs and developing the workforce. Employees, in turn, should build AI-relevant skills while continuing to strengthen the domain expertise, judgement and human skills that remain critical as jobs evolve.

Read the full guidelines: http://go.gov.sg/nwc20262027

Please note: BritCham is sharing this on behalf of the Ministry of Manpower and the NWC. The infographic on the key recommendations can be attached to this post.

Infographic: Link Here