SINGAPORE – Workers in Singapore have high expectations for a pay rise and are ready to push their employers for it, as the cost of living rises amid severe labor shortages.
Human resources services firm ADP said on Thursday (May 5) its annual People At Work report found that six out of 10 workers in Singapore were willing to ask for a raise.
The figure rises to 7 out of 10 for workers aged 25 to 34, adds ADP.
The company surveyed nearly 33,000 workers in 17 countries around the world last November for the latest edition of the report, which explores employees’ attitudes towards work and their hopes for their workplace in the future.
ADP, headquartered in the United States, said more than three-quarters of workers globally say they are likely to ask for a raise if they feel they deserve it.
The findings come at a time when Singapore is facing record job vacancies, with a peak of 114,000 vacancies last December, more than double the 53,000 figure in December 2020, as businesses struggle to fill positions to keep up with the repressed. demand, especially for the service sector.
ADP noted: “Globally, the cost of living is rising rapidly in many parts of the world amid high global inflation, which is expected to remain high for some time, and (it follows) two years of disruption to jobs related to the pandemic.”
In its statement, ADP also said that around five in 10 workers in Singapore expect to get a pay rise in the next 12 months and more than four in 10 expect to receive a bonus.
“This when only a third expect to receive a promotion or increased responsibility.”
The company said one of the reasons workers may feel they deserve a pay rise is the amount of overtime unpaid work many of them put in, starting early, staying late or working during breaks.
Four in 10 workers in Singapore said they felt they worked between six and 10 hours of unpaid overtime every week, ADP said.
Workers surveyed in Singapore reported working unpaid overtime for an average of 8 hours.
Globally, ADP also found that pay was the most important factor for employed workers, with nearly two-thirds saying it was a priority, followed by safety. employment (54%), flexible working hours (33%) and pleasure. of their work (32%).
In Singapore, respondents place above-average importance on salary, with 71% considering salary the most important factor, ADP said.
