SBF and SNEF brief over 900 business leaders on wage guidelines, productivity and workforce transformation.
More than 900 business leaders, senior management representatives and human resource practitioners attended the NWC 2026/2027 Guidelines Briefing, jointly organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), to understand the latest National Wages Council (NWC) recommendations and their implications for employers.
The NWC 2026/2027 Guidelines call for positive wage growth while recognising that wage adjustments should reflect individual businesses’ financial performance and operating conditions. They also emphasise the importance of linking wage progression with productivity improvements, business transformation and skills development to support long-term competitiveness.
The recommendations encourage employers whose businesses have performed well to share the gains with their employees, while continuing efforts to uplift lower-wage workers. This approach highlights the need to balance fair wage progression with business sustainability, particularly as companies navigate changing economic conditions.
The briefing featured a panel discussion moderated by Hao Shuo, Chief Executive Officer of SNEF. The panellists were Chin Wei Jia, Vice Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of SBF; Kuah Boon Wee, President of SNEF; and Alexander C. Melchers, Vice-President of SNEF.
The discussion examined how employers could support wage growth while maintaining business competitiveness. Panellists highlighted the importance of recognising differences in business circumstances, improving productivity and investing in workforce transformation to support sustainable wage increases.
The session also addressed the continued importance of uplifting lower-wage workers. By aligning wage progression with productivity gains and workforce development, employers can work towards improving employee earnings while supporting their organisations’ long-term business needs.
The briefing provided employers and HR practitioners with an opportunity to better understand the NWC recommendations and consider how these could be applied in their respective workplaces.
SBF and SNEF thanked the speakers, partners and participants for contributing to the exchange of perspectives on wage growth, workforce development and business competitiveness.
Read the NWC 2026/2027 Guidelines: Click here
View the NWC Recommendations Infographics: Click here
Source: Singapore Business Federation
