Measures to Support PWM Workers Residing in Public Rental Housing Experiencing Rent Increases in View of Wage Adjustments

Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry has data on the number of workers covered under the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) who currently reside in public rental housing and have experienced rent increases following wage adjustments; and (b) what specific support measures are in place to cushion the impact of rental increases for these PWM workers.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) does not track public rental tenants by the sectors they are employed in.

For tenants of public rental flats, including workers covered under the Progressive Wage Model, HDB will not raise their rent during the tenancy term even if there is an increase in their incomes.

As HDB rental rates are heavily subsidised, it is fair to all taxpayers for a tenant to pay higher rent when his income rises. Before any increase in rent is applied upon tenancy renewal, HDB will consider factors such as household size and living expenses to ensure that any rent increase is lower than the income increase, so that the tenants are still financially better off when they earn higher incomes.