Come 2008, 1,100 full-time local conservancy workers would have benefited from training and better pay, thanks to a new initiative by 14 PAP Town Councils, NTUC and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA). Roshidi Bin Othman has been engaged by a contractor to wash the corridors and void decks of HDB flats for a year now.
He will be one of the first batch of 300 Town Council conservancy workers to go for a four-day course next week on the cleaning of residential estates.
Currently drawing a salary of $900, Roshidi hopes to get an increase of 10 percent after the course.
"After the training, I hope to upgrade myself to become a foreman or supervisor," said Roshidi.
The PAP Town Councils, NTUC and WDA say the course aims to make the cleaning profession more attractive to Singaporeans.
Under Manpower Ministry regulations, Singaporeans must make up 70% of the total number of conservancy workers. The remaining 30% are foreign workers who are mostly refuse collectors.
But any pay increase is not likely to affect the service and conservancy charge as cleaning makes only a small part of it.
What town councillors are more concerned with are the other components which are facing rising costs.
"For example, building materials have gone up quite a lot. And when we do building repairs, maintenance of the various building services, there are a lot of cost pressure on the town councils," said Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District.
"But the PAP town councils have always been committed to the residents, to try our best to keep S&C (Service and Conservancy) charges as affordable as possible," added Dr Teo.
To emphasise the quality of the cleaning, town councils will now award contracts not just based on the tender price. They will also consider the contractor's track record and financial position. - CNA /ls
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