Occupational Progressive Wages (OPW) for Administrators and Drivers
What is Occupational Progressive Wages (OPW)?
Occupational Progressive Wages (OPW) are standards established by the National Wages Council (NWC) that apply to administrators and drivers in Singapore. These guidelines are requirements for employers in order to focus on meeting wage and training standards for their employees who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Starting March 1, 2023, employers need to meet OPW requirements when renewing existing work passes or applying for new ones.
Who does OPW cover?
OPW encompasses all Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents who are:
- Full-time or part-time administrative or driving employees under a contract of service.
- Employed by companies hiring foreign workers
What roles does OPW cover?
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
Duties involve carrying out basic administrative functions such as:
- Running errands
- Data entry
- Receiving and registering documents
- Sorting and storing of files
Examples of roles:
- Office attendant
- Clerk for data entry, library, etc.
Administrative Executives
Duties involve executing various administrative functions, including:
- Financial tasks like accounting, bookkeeping, and money management
- Customer-oriented duties such as answering and directing calls, providing client information and services
- Record management, involving the maintenance and updating of filing systems and inventory
- Secretarial responsibilities, like scheduling appointments and organising meetings
- Preparation of production schedules
Roles covered by these responsibilities include:
- General office clerk, customer service clerk, stock clerk, transport clerk, statistical clerk, legal clerk, accounting and bookkeeping clerk, production clerk, computer operations clerk, postal service counter clerk, finance and insurance clerk, travel agency clerk, proofreading clerk
- Office cashier, bank cashier
- Receptionist
- Telephone operator
- Secretary
- Verbatim reporter
- Typist and word processing operator
- Concierge
Administrative Supervisors
Duties include:
- Overseeing staff performing administrative or clerical tasks such as general administration, customer service, records management, and data analysis
- Managing personnel, addressing work-related issues, and facilitating coordination between units within an organisation.
Example of roles:
- Office supervisor
Drivers
General Drivers
Duties:
- Operating vehicles that require Class 3 driving licence or below such as motorcycles, cars, vans, and trams
Examples of roles:
- Motorcycle delivery drivers
- Van drivers
- Tram drivers
Specialised Drivers
Responsibilities:
- Operating vehicles that require a Class 4 driving licence and above such as lorries, trailer trucks, and buses, and other specialised driver roles like chauffeurs
Examples of roles:
- Trailer truck drivers
- Bus drivers
- Lorry drivers
- Chauffeurs
- Concrete mix truck drivers
OPW Training Requirements
Employers must ensure their Singaporean and Permanent Resident administrators and drivers fulfill OPW training requirements by obtaining:
- At least 1 Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Statement of Attainment (no specific course restrictions)
- Completion of an in-house training program
Note: The in-house training should align with specific objectives, modality, key tasks, and duration. Employers must maintain documentation supporting the in-house program and attendance records.
Employers are given a grace period for OPW training compliance:
- New hires: Six months from the employment start date.
- Existing employees: Up to February 29 2024, one year from the OPW implementation in March 2023.
By providing proper training, administrators and drivers are able to enhance productivity and skillsets.
ASK Training WSQ Courses
Explore @ASK Training’s range of courses designed to meet the Occupations Progressive Wage requirements, established by the National Wages Council (NWC).
Click to view full course details.
Microsoft Excel Courses
- WSQ Microsoft Excel Essentials
- Data Visualisation and Storytelling with Power BI
- Data Visualisation and Storytelling with Tableau
IT Courses
- Introduction to Information Technology
- Understanding Computer Hardware & Peripherals
- Operating Systems and Desktop Support
- Network Fundamentals and Troubleshooting
- Cybersecurity Essentials
- IT Troubleshooting and Problem Solving
- IT Service Management and Help Desk Operations
Digital Marketing Courses
- WSQ Digital Marketing Essentials – (Classroom and Async e-learning)
- WSQ Social Media Marketing
- WSQ Digital Advertising
- WSQ Search Engine Optimisation
- WSQ Digital Marketing Analytics (Google Analytics)
- WSQ WordPress Website Creation
- WSQ Digital Content Creation
- WSQ Copywriting and Content Writing
- WSQ Google Ads
- WSQ Facebook and Instagram Marketing
- WSQ Website & Landing Page Conversion Optimisation
- WSQ Advanced Digital Marketing Strategy
- WSQ Advanced Social Media Management
- WSQ Advanced Digital Content Marketing
- WSQ Advanced Digital Marketing Analytics (Google Analytics)
- WSQ Email Marketing
- WSQ Advanced Search Engine Optimisation
- WSQ Advanced Digital Advertising
For inquiries related to OPW, please contact our course consultants at +65 6484 6723 or email us at [email protected].
Related:
UTAP Funding
WSQ Course Funding