Initiatives for Landscape Maintenance Subsector

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the progress on the Landscape Sector Transformation Plan (LSTP) since its launch in May 2019; (b) what is the status of LSTP initiatives for the landscape maintenance subsector; (c) what is the number and breakdown by Progressive Wage Model job levels of resident landscape maintenance employees from 2016 to 2020; and (d) what are the median basic and gross wages of these employees for the same period.

Since the launch of the 10-year Landscape Sector Transformation Plan (LSTP) in May 2019, NParks has worked with stakeholders in the landscape industry and Institutes of Higher Learning to push forward in digitalising, mechanising and professionalising the landscape sector. For example, companies have tapped on NParks’ Landscape Productivity Grant to purchase equipment that improves the productivity of landscape maintenance works. NParks has also worked with ITE to revise the ITE landscaping course curriculum to impart a wider range of skills, including digital skills. NParks and ITE have also launched a Student-Run Park initiative at Bedok Town Park to provide students with first-hand experience in landscape design, horticulture, and arboriculture. Companies have also begun to tap on ITE’s new Work-Study Diploma in Arboriculture and Horticulture, which started in 2019.

NParks estimates that there are about 3,000 resident landscape maintenance employees. In terms of Progressive Wage Model job levels, over 80% of these employees are landscape workers, about 10% are landscape technicians, 3% are assistant landscape supervisors, and 5% are landscape supervisors. The number and breakdown of employees has remained stable over the last few years. Between 2016 and 2019 (the latest year for which data is available), the median monthly basic and gross wages of full-time resident landscape maintenance employees have risen from $1,300 to $1,460 and $1,300 to $1,500, respectively.