SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (Feb 14) published salary guidelines for the community care sector, aimed at helping organisations attract and retain talent as well as ensuring fairness in pay structures and salaries.
The guidelines provide the recommended starting and mid-point monthly base salary, as well as the median annual total compensation for various job roles in the sector.
They will apply to the entire community care workforce, including nurses, pharmacists as well as administrative, ancillary and support care staff.
MOH said that the salary guidelines aim to help community care organisations offer competitive salaries and enhance fairness in pay structures and salaries.
“Organisations with compensation lower than the published salaries are strongly encouraged to adjust their pay packages to align more closely with the guidelines,” said the ministry in a press release.
“On the other hand, organisations with compensation higher than the published salaries are encouraged to maintain their competitive position, and should not be reducing or ‘freezing’ their salary review cycles or annual increments to staff.”
It also encouraged community care organisations to regularly review their salary levels for both local and foreign staff to “keep pace with the market, in order to retain and attract staff”.
MOH said the guidelines can also help those looking to enter the sector at various points, such as fresh graduates and mid-career entrants, to understand the salary ranges of different roles.
For example, a full-time enrolled nurse can expect to receive a starting monthly base salary of S$2,050 (US$1,520), which will increase to S$3,120 at the mid-point of their job band after gaining more experience.
Monthly base salaries exclude bonuses, allowances, and other benefits that may vary from organisation to organisation. The actual salaries of individual staff may also vary based on their relevant experience and work performance.