Overview
Government initiatives on landscape development and workforce development drive industry growth
Singapore’s vision of being a “garden city” which was introduced in the 1960s has come to fruition, with the country boasting some of the world’s best parks, landscapes and streetscapes. Driven by fast-paced urbanisation, and its Green Plan launched in the 1990s, Singapore’s green landscape significantly enhances its position as a major tourist destination in Asia. The Landscape Industry Association (Singapore), or LIAS, is responsible for the development of quality landscape products and services within Singapore, as well as for boosting professionalism in the sector. Some of the country’s qualitative landscape developments include the incorporation of flowering shrubs and trees, colour and variegated plants, and more focus placed on enhancing Singapore’s tropical climate, built environment and natural beauty.
While the country achieved full employment in 1970, industrialisation and rapid economic growth meant that jobs in unskilled areas could no longer be undertaken by the domestic workforce. With a significant need to employ foreign workers, the Singapore government implemented several policies in the late 1980s to manage the employment of foreign workers within the country. Some of these regulations include the foreign worker levy paid by employers and the dependency ceiling (limiting the number of foreign workers per employer). Additionally, since December 2005, as per the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), all foreign construction workers are required to obtain a Basic Skills Certificate before they are allowed to work in Singapore. In 2008, the government introduced the 1:1 policy (foreign worker:local worker) in order to reduce the dependency on foreign workers.
Employee skills and frequency of maintenance play vital roles in ensuring industry productivity
Singapore places great importance on the frequency of maintenance, with horticultural maintenance being the single-largest maintenance task undertaken by the government. The government’s accessibility to cheap labour for park maintenance activities results in efficiency and profitability due to the reduced requirement for capital investment in labour-reducing equipment. As a result, contractors are able to benefit from major technological gains through the use of advanced equipment, specifically in the areas of watering, weeding, planting and grass cutting.
Furthermore, industry productivity is heavily dependent on employee skill levels. Ideally, educated and trained landscape workers would be capable of assessing situations and taking appropriate action. In general, graduates from polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) tend to fill the roles of assistant supervisor, supervisor or specialist level, within the landscaping sector. On the other hand, those with degrees or diplomas in landscape architecture or design may choose to work as a landscape designer or architect.
Key Trends
Tripartite advisory ensures sustainability and plays significant role in post-COVID recovery
The tripartite advisory – issued by NParks (National Parks Board – Singapore), MOM, NTUC (National Trade Union Congress), SNEF (Singapore National Employers Federation), LIAS and the Tripartite Cluster for Landscape Industry (TCL) – was introduced in August 2020, with the aim of maintaining a sustainable landscaping sector during the circuit breaker period at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provided recommendations on measures that can be adopted by landscape providers and service buyers to ensure sustainability of the landscaping sector during and post pandemic.
While the livelihoods of landscape maintenance employees were affected, and demand and supply of landscaping services were severely disrupted amidst the pandemic, the tripartite advisory’s recommendations continue to play a critical role in ensuring the industry’s survival. Some of these recommendations include:
- Reprioritising and reallocating landscape needs
- Exercising restraint in activating penalty clauses
- Adhering to vaccination and testing requirements for landscape maintenance employees
- Appropriate payment to service providers
- Appropriate remuneration for landscape maintenance employees
- Upskill workers with decreased workloads, with the help of government support
- Ensuring workplace safety and health (WSH)
NParks digitalisation plan to transform Landscaping Sector
In May 2019, NParks launched a 10-year industry transformation plan, known as the Landscape Sector Transformation Plan (LTSP), to encourage companies and workers in the sector to boost their competencies and skills through digitalisation, professionalisation and mechanisation. As part of its initiatives to prepare the next generation of workers, NParks will partner with ITE, polytechnics and universities to train a minimum of 350 professionals every year, from 2022 onwards. Moreover, the initiative supports Singapore’s plan to add a further 1,000 ha in green spaces around the country over the next 10 to 15 years, and aims to revamp the ageing workforce in the sector to help meet growing demands. Under the LTSP, organisations are able to adopt new technologies, supported by the Landscape Productivity Grant. Additionally, the government also helps companies grow in international markets by aiding them in exporting their landscaping and consultancy services through overseas projects. The LTSP is expected to lead to a growth of up to 30% in revenue and value-add per worker between 2022– 2030. This can be broken down into six levels:
- Introducing new technology to raise efficiency and industry standards
- Training the workforce to improve skills and professionalism
- Increasing productivity through government support
- Developing and tendering out nursery land
- Exporting local landscaping services
- Promoting best sourcing in contacts
Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to improve and motivate workforce
In 2021, the government launched the PWM, developed by the TCL, which sets minimum wages and training requirements for workers across different skill levels. Under this initiative, the basic minimum wage offered to landscape maintenance workers is expected to rise by 6.3% per year on average, across a period of six years. commencing July 2023. Additionally, with effect from 1 September 2022, local in-house landscape maintenance employees are required to be paid in line with PWM requirements.
Key Statistics
As at February 2021, the monthly wage for landscape workers stood at SGD 1,450, while landscape technicians earned SGD 1,650.
From July 2022 onwards, landscape workers are paid a minimum of SGD 1,550 in basic wages, as per the recommendations from unions, employers and the government. Monthly wages for landscape designers and architects amounted to SGD 2,750 and SGD 3,050, respectively.
Top Singapore MNCs in Landscaping
ISS HYDROCULTURE PTE. LTD.
Repeated as per client
Top Singapore Large Local Enterprises in Landscaping
KIAT LEE LANDSCAPE & BUILDING PTE LTD
Kiat Lee Landscape & Building was founded in 1990 in Singapore. The company is focused on recycling, horticulture waste management, landscape architecture, and landscape maintenance. Kiat Lee operates a nursery in Singapore's countryside where rare plants, ornamental plants, orchids, trees, vegetables, shrubs, and herbs are grown. These plants are supplied to customers in order to meet their needs for potting, designs, and imaginative gardens. Since many species depend on climate, structural engineering, soil, and drainage, the firm also considers these factors while designing landscapes. Moreover, the company offers landscape maintenance services to national parks, private sectors, hotels, and more. Kiat Lee also has expertise in design-focused floral display services.
800 LANDSCAPE PTE. LTD.
800 Landscape was established in Singapore in 2009. It is the horticulture and landscaping division of 800 Super, which is a Singapore-owned environmental services provider for the public and private sectors. The landscape division was formed as part of the firm’s integral environmental solutions to many of its esteemed clients. For parks and flourishing gardens, 800 Landscape offers a full range of horticulture, landscaping, and related services. These services include grass-cutting, arboriculture, landscape planning, and landscape maintenance services such as the planting and pruning of plants and trees.
SWEE BEE CONTRACTOR PTE LTD
Swee Bee Contractor, a Singapore-based landscape company, was established in 1988. The firm offers a wide range of services for designing, managing, and maintaining landscapes, including horticulture services such as turfing, grass cutting, and trimming; arboriculture services such as tree pruning, tree removal, tree transplanting, etc; and forestry, urban greening, and nature preserves. Swee Bee’s corporate plant rental services add beauty and freshness to the lobby, atrium, or other communal areas around an office. The company takes a personalized approach to each bespoke plant decorating project that creates interior and exterior decoration for a wide range of occasions and festivals.
BNL SERVICES PTE LTD
BNL is an environmental service provider which was founded in Singapore in 1958. The company manages major hotels, parks, and tourist attraction sites across the island. BNL specializes in landscape services, cleaning services, and waste management. The business provides a wide range of landscaping services, including tree evaluation, lawn maintenance, and implementation work. BNL offers services for all types of properties – public, commercial, and private – in any area, no matter the size. Additionally, the firm has expertise in arboriculture services, implementing and maintaining green walls, and turf management.
Top Singapore SMEs in Landscaping
GREEN CHAPTER PTE. LTD.
Green Chapter is an aquarium service and maintenance business which is headquartered in Singapore. The company was founded in 2004, and offers consulting services for aquarium makeovers and custom-made tanks and cabinets, in addition to designing, installing, and maintaining freshwater, marine, and terrarium systems. Green Chapter has a wide variety of terrarium styles and concepts. These terrariums can be used as sentimental gifts or they could be placed on desks or shelves of homes and offices. Additionally, the firm offers classes for beginners on the installation and maintenance of planted tanks.
FAR EAST FLORIST & LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION PTE LTD
Far East Florist & Landscape Construction – a division of Far East Flora Holding – was incorporated in 1986. It specializes in landscape design, building and maintenance, distribution of garden accessories, lawn turfing, grass and tree cutting, and more. The firm offers a wide range of services to its clients including the installation of water features, green walls, and green roofs with which clients can create customized urban gardens for their homes and offices. The company also trades in local and imported flowers and plants, gardening tools, fertilizers, and designer pots and planters with self-watering systems, etc.
CHEN WA LANDSCAPE PTE LTD
Founded in Singapore in 1995, Chen Wa Landscape is a gardening service company and hardscape contractor. The firm has worked on numerous projects relating to garden design landscaping, hardscaping, floral or decorative plant arrangements, bio-filter systems, pond designs for fish and koi, and landscape management and maintenance. Trellises, pavilion designs, and other hardscape designs can be created anywhere, whether in a client's office, house, or rooftop. Chen Wa can create a unique trellis to meet the exact needs of a client because the company constructs everything from scratch. The company-owned nursery also provides plant rental services for an array of flowers and plants.
NYEE PHOE FLOWER GARDEN PTE LTD
Nyee Phoe Flower Garden is a Singapore-based company that focuses on providing consulting and design services for gardens and landscapes. The company was established in 1911. Nyee Phoe has expertise in natural and preserved biophilic design creations that include the installation and maintenance of vertical gardens, indoor green walls, or moss walls for homes, offices, and other types of interiors. The firm’s product offering also includes non-filled synthetic turf made of quality synthetic fibres for both indoor and outdoor gardens or other biophilic design installations. Furthermore, the firm provides floral design and services for all occasions and spaces.
HYDROPONICS & PLANT CARE PTE LTD
Hydroponics & Plant Care is a Singapore-based plant nutrition company that has supplied agricultural solutions across the globe. Founded in 1998, the firm offers a wide range of products to build urban gardens and specializes in constructing indoor hydroponic and aquaponic gardens, and organic gardens, among others. A variety of seeds are distributed worldwide in order to facilitate their easy transplantation into larger pots for hydroponic or soil planting, and seedlings are cultivated in germination media. Hydroponics & Plant Care is known for its LUSHGro Formulated Nutrients – these products are specially formulated for the tropical Singaporean climate and produced in-house.
ISLAND LANDSCAPE AND NURSERY PTE LIMITED
Island Landscape & Nursery was incorporated in 1976 in Singapore. The company is a one-stop garden centre which provides various solutions for all gardening needs. The firm specializes in landscaping and has enlivened various outdoor landscapes by blending elements of creative greenery with nature. A wide range of landscape works, including softscape and hardscape, water features, wooden works, and irrigation, are undertaken by the firm, together with design consulting, supply, and installation services. The company’s portfolio spans public and private-sector projects. It also provides customized landscape maintenance and arboriculture services that cater to different land areas and degrees of complexity.
THE GARDEN STORE (S) PTE. LTD.
The Garden Store (S) was established in 2009. The company manages the Chin Ling Nursery in Singapore. The Chin Ling Nursery is a garden supplies centre, and also caters to its clients' landscape design and build needs. The firm delivers a wide range of gardening products and accessories that are suitable for building any outdoor space in Singapore or across the globe. The company’s product portfolio includes aquariums, jars, plants, soil and compost, pots, planters, saucers, seeds, pebbles and stones, fertilizers, solar garden lights, paving slabs, and more.
CHOP CHING HIN PTE LTD
Founded in 1994, Chop Ching Hin is a Singapore-headquartered landscape supplying company that specializes in installation and maintenance of green technologies such as green wall systems and green roof systems. These technologies have brought urban greenery into commercial and residential spaces in Singapore and the region. Chop Ching Hin’s green walls have been proven to reduce noise and air pollution, and help in cooling the surrounding temperature. Clients have installed the firm’s green roof system to beautify their rooftops, prolong roof life, and reduce the urban heat island effect. The firm owns nurseries in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and India that offer a variety of trees, palms, shrubs, and other plants.
HAWAII LANDSCAPE PTE LTD
Hawaii Landscape is a Singapore-owned firm which was established in 1968. The company focuses on landscape architecture in Singapore and across the ASEAN region. It offers a wide range of services including landscape design and installation, maintenance services, and hardscape services, and specializes in all types of outdoor structural timber works such as fencing, timber decking, timber trellis, etc., for commercial and residential properties. Hawaii Landscape, which is bizSAFE Level 3 certified, has received numerous accolades for its building projects. These include the Gold and Silver Awards from the National Parks, and the Singapore Garden Festival Awards.
THE NATURE COMPANY (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
Incorporated in 1998, The Nature Company (Singapore) specializes in the wholesale distribution of natural horticulture supplies, and also offers event-specific flooring and grass protection products. The firm provides a wide range of products in collaboration with PROFLOOR – an outdoor flooring specialist with manufacturing facilities in Australia and the Netherlands. The Nature Company (Singapore) offers portable event flooring solutions in Singapore. These solutions are suitable for a range of surfaces, from synthetic turf to natural grass, ice arenas, and indoor surfaces. The flooring is easy to install and remove, making it an ideal choice for use at carnivals, expos, and festivals, as well as marquee flooring.
