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Hong Kong’s electricity bills are expected to hit a short-term peak in August due to the Middle East conflict, an energy advisory chair has said.

Hong Kong’s current electricity tariff has yet to reflect the impact of the Middle East conflict, which broke out in late February, Simon Wong, chair of the government’s Energy Advisory Committee, said on TVB on Sunday.

The fuel surcharges of Hong Kong’s two utility giants are based on a cost-reimbursement mechanism and are adjusted according to the average cost of the past three months, he explained.

“Based on my calculation, electricity costs may reach a short-term peak in August. After that, costs might fluctuate at a high level, with the possibility of them easing slightly,” he said.

The total electricity tariff will be 5 to 10 per cent higher than before the Middle East conflict, he added.

CLP Power announced on Tuesday that its fuel cost adjustment for June would be 42.6 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up from 40.4 cents in May.

The increase of 5.4 per cent is the third consecutive monthly hike since April.

The other power company, HK Electric, said on Friday that its fuel clause charge for June would be 31.3 cents per kWh, an increase of 20.4 per cent from May.

The utility provider said the adjustment began to reflect the significant surge in international fuel prices caused by the Middle East war.

However, due to a “lag effect,” the current figures do not yet fully capture the shift in fuel costs, and the fuel adjustment fee is expected to continue climbing in the coming months, it added.

SINGAPORE: New data from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) shows that workers in Administrative & Support Services enjoyed the strongest wage growth in 2025, outpacing employees in finance, insurance and several other traditionally higher-paying industries.

The figures come from MOM’s Report on Wage Practices 2025, released on May 28, and offer a closer look at how salaries moved across different sectors over the past two years.

Earlier this year, MOM reported that Singapore’s median monthly salary rose to S$5,775 in 2025, a 5% increase from 2024. The latest breakdown shows that the gains were far from uniform.

Support services came out on top

According to the MOM data, workers in Administrative & Support Services received average wage increases of 7.5% in 2025, making the sector the strongest performer among all major industries.

At the other end of the table were Accommodation and Food & Beverage (F&B) Services, which recorded the slowest salary growth.

Finance and insurance jobs are associated with higher pay packages, yet their wage growth over the past two years hasn’t kept pace with that in support services.

Nick Karean/The Independent Singapore News

MOM: Report on Wage Practices 2025

The findings show that salary growth and salary size aren’t always the same. A sector can offer high pay while still recording slower annual increases than industries playing catch-up.

Two years of gains add up

Looking at cumulative wage growth from 2024 and 2025 paints an even clearer picture. Workers in Administrative & Support Services saw wages rise by nearly 17% over the two-year period. In practical terms, that amounts to roughly two extra months of 2023 salary spread across the period.

Workers in sectors near the bottom of the rankings still experienced gains, though at a slower pace. Their cumulative wage growth ranged between about 8% and 9%, equivalent to roughly one additional month of 2023 income.

One notable change involved Wholesale Trade. While it slipped to the bottom of the cumulative rankings, the sector may be positioned for a stronger recovery.

Nick Karean/The Independent Singapore News

MOM: Report on Wage Practices 2025

According to the data, rising demand linked to electronics manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) has boosted trading activity and improved sentiment within the industry.

The wage outlook for 2026 remains mixed

Singapore’s economy expanded by 6% in the first quarter of the year, showing strength across multiple sectors. Yet businesses are also facing uncertainty stemming from geopolitical tensions and disruptions affecting trade and energy markets, which may make employers more cautious when deciding on salary increases.

Workers in electronics manufacturing and wholesale trade could be among the better-positioned groups if current industry trends continue. Strong demand tied to AI-related supply chains has helped drive activity, and profitable companies may have more room to reward staff.

For many other sectors, however, wage growth could depend on how global economic conditions develop over the coming months.

Number averages only tell part of the story

The latest MOM figures show why headline salary numbers never tell the whole story. A rising national median wage is encouraging, but workers experience the economy differently depending on where they work.

For employees, the report offers a useful benchmark. For employers, it serves as a snapshot of where competition for talent is heating up.

As always, salary growth is strongest when businesses perform well, and workers continue to build valuable skills. Economic conditions matter, but so does staying adaptable in a changing job market.

Read related: MOM: Wage growth slowed down for workers in Singapore last year compared with 2024; expected to stay moderate in 2026

This article (SG Ministry of Manpower wage report 2025: Which industries are workers’ salaries rising the fastest in Singapore) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s wage growth is expected to ease in 2026 as businesses take a more cautious stance amid growing geopolitical uncertainties and persistent inflationary pressures.

According to a report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday, Singapore’s focus remains on ensuring that wage increases are supported by productivity improvements while safeguarding jobs. The report showed that nominal wages for resident employees rose by 4.9 per cent in 2025, down from the 5.6 per cent increase recorded in 2024.

The moderation in wage growth comes as employers navigate a more challenging economic environment. Businesses are increasingly concerned about rising operating costs, particularly labour expenses, as global uncertainties continue to cloud the outlook.

A survey conducted by an industry group last month found that more than half of the companies polled were worried about labour costs amid an unpredictable global economy. At the same time, Singapore’s labour market has shown signs of softening, with the unemployment rate edging up to 2.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year, compared with 2 per cent in the previous quarter.

The latest data reflects broader concerns over the impact of geopolitical tensions and inflationary risks on business sentiment and hiring decisions.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has previously pledged support for workers facing increasingly rapid and unprecedented economic changes. The global environment has become more volatile due to factors such as ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, both of which are reshaping industries and labour markets.

These disruptions are already affecting employment worldwide. Technology giant Meta Platforms and German biotechnology company BioNTech have been among firms that have announced job cuts, highlighting the pressures faced by businesses as they adjust to changing economic conditions.

Singapore’s central bank has also warned of a softer labour market ahead. In April, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said labour demand is likely to remain subdued this year as companies adopt a more cautious approach.

The MAS noted that if economic growth weakens for a prolonged period, employers may scale back hiring plans, while layoffs could increase. Such developments could further weigh on wage growth as businesses seek to manage costs and preserve employment in an uncertain environment.

Despite the slower pace of wage increases, Singapore’s labour policies continue to emphasise balancing wage growth with productivity improvements, with the aim of ensuring sustainable income gains for workers while maintaining the competitiveness of businesses.

This article (Pay rises in Singapore expected to cool amid inflation and geopolitical risks) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

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NGO Green Power has urged the Hong Kong government to better regulate ozone precursors as hot weather exacerbates air pollution across the city.

Chemical compounds – such as nitrogen oxides, methane, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and carbon monoxide – form ground-level ozone by reacting in the lower atmosphere in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone attacks and inflames lung tissue, but reducing underlying pollutants prevents harmful smog.

According to a Sunday press release, Green Power’s director, Cheng Luk-ki, said VOCs – which are emitted through oil and gas operations, petrol evaporation and chemical solvents – should be better regulated.

See also: How extreme heat became the deadliest silent killer among world weather disasters

“In the future, the public’s health may be affected by both high temperatures and air quality at the same time,” the press release said.

Last week, Hong Kong sweltered amid a days-long heatwave. Whilst rain brought some respite over the weekend, the Observatory predicts highs of 35 degrees Celsius by the end of this week.

Cooling measures for hottest areas

Green Power’s review of Hong Kong’s air quality situation in 2025 found that 15 air quality monitoring stations recorded “a total of 2,080 hours at High, Very High and Serious levels – collectively referred to as ‘High Risk (HR) hours.'”

See also: How Hong Kong’s elderly face deadly heat inside cramped cage homes

Cheng said Hong Kong was affected by a northern Chinese dust storm last April, pushing up the statistics. However, the NGO also noted that overall air quality has been improving thanks to the city’s diversification away from coal towards natural gas, as well as efforts to tighten emission standards for fuel-powered vehicles.

The director said he had analysed last summer’s Air Quality Health Index data, and found that the nine days ranked as “high risk” all saw temperatures exceeding 29 degrees Celsius, “demonstrating a strong connection between heat and air quality.”

He warned that hot weather will become more frequent, as he urged the authorities to take action in the territory’s hottest districts.

The NGO recommended cooling measures in Tuen Mun, Tai Po, North District, Yuen Long and Tung Chung, “such as increasing greenery coverage, revitalising local rivers, and incorporating more ventilation corridor designs.”

See also: How extreme heat became the deadliest silent killer among world weather disasters

Hong Kong has already warmed by 1.7 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution, research NGO Berkeley Earth says. Heat and humidity may reach lethal levels for protracted periods by the end of the century, according to a 2023 study, making it impossible to stay outdoors in some parts of the world.

SINGAPORE: Singapore workers received pay rises for a second straight year in 2025, although wage growth slowed compared with 2024.

The good news is that workers were still better off in real terms. With inflation easing, salaries stretched further, giving employees a stronger boost in purchasing power than the year before.

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on May 28, nominal wages for full-time resident employees who stayed with the same employer for at least a year rose by 4.9 per cent in 2025, down fro`m 5.6 per cent in 2024. After adjusting for inflation, real wages increased by 4.0 per cent, up from 3.2 per cent the previous year.

Nick Karean/The Independent Singapore News

MOM: Wage Growth 2025

The figures suggest that while pay packets didn’t grow as fast based on data, workers still benefited from a lower cost-of-living environment than in 2024.

More companies remained profitable

MOM’s report showed that business conditions stayed fairly healthy through 2025. More than eight in 10 establishments, or 83.1 per cent, reported making a profit, up from 80.8 per cent in 2024. At the same time, the share of companies reporting losses fell to 16.9 per cent from 19.2 per cent a year earlier.

The data paints a picture of a business sector that stayed resilient despite ongoing global economic uncertainty. Smaller firms were still more likely to report losses than larger companies, mirroring the tougher operating conditions faced by businesses with fewer resources.

Employers became more careful with salary increases for employees

While most employers continued raising salaries for workers, there were signs of greater caution. About 72.4 per cent of establishments increased wages in 2025, down from 78.3 per cent in 2024. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of firms left wages unchanged, up from 18.5 per cent the year before.

Among companies that granted pay increases, the average wage rise was 5.8 per cent. Employee retention remained the main reason employers chose to increase salaries. In a tight labour market, retaining experienced staff remains a priority for many businesses.

Only 3.1 per cent of companies reduced wages; those that did generally faced weaker business performance than in the previous year. The trend shows that workers still expect wage growth, but businesses are also preparing for economic uncertainty and rising costs.

Wage gains spread across sectors and job levels

One notable finding from the report was that wage growth was broad-based. Rank-and-file employees saw wages grow by 4.8 per cent, junior managers by 5.1 per cent and senior managers by 4.9 per cent. The differences between these groups narrowed, suggesting gains were shared more evenly across the workforce.

Every sector recorded positive wage growth. Administrative and Support Services posted the strongest increase at 7.5 per cent. The sector includes cleaning, security and landscape services, where lower-wage workers continue to benefit from the Progressive Wage Model and Local Qualifying Salary requirements.

Financial Services and Insurance Services also recorded healthy wage growth as demand remained strong for professionals and managers.

Nick Karean/The Independent Singapore News

MOM: Wage Growth by Industry 2025

The accommodation and construction sectors still saw pay increases, but at a slower pace than the previous year, as hiring demand stabilised following the post-pandemic rebound.

Workers can expect real wage growth to stay positive in 2026

MOM expects real wage growth to remain positive in 2026. However, businesses are likely to stay cautious when deciding on salary increases due to inflation risks and geopolitical tensions.

As such, workers may continue seeing pay rises, but probably not at the pace many experienced during the stronger post-pandemic recovery years.

The report indicates that wage growth is still tied to productivity. Sustainable salary increases depend on businesses becoming more productive, workers upgrading their skills and companies maintaining healthy financial performance.

What matters more now than how much salaries increase is how much purchasing power is left for Singaporeans after their everyday expenses are paid.

Read related: Singapore job hiring drops across most sectors despite AI-driven manufacturing demand; employment outlook weakens in the coming months

This article (MOM: Wage growth slowed down for workers in Singapore last year compared with 2024; expected to stay moderate in 2026) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.