A working mum’s rise from night shift cleaner to team leader shows PWM success

While Singapore settled down for the day, Azizah Abdul Majeed prepared to leave for her evening shift, leaving her two young sons behind.

As a single mother working nights as a cleaner at Changi Airport in the 1990s, she had no choice but to trust her children to manage on their own until she returned the next morning.

“I always prepared everything before I left for work,” recalled Azizah, now 54.

“I told my children that I’m earning a living for both of them so that they can have, not a luxurious life, but at least get what they need from me.”

The routine was challenging but workable. The boys would be in school when she returned from her shift, and she would rest while they were studying.

By the time they returned home in the afternoon, she would have some precious hours with them before heading out for her next shift.

“They are very self-confident. They can manage themselves by doing everything on their own,” she said.

From cleaner to team leader

What started as a part-time cleaning job to support her family gradually evolved into a career path.

Changi Airport’s demanding standards shaped her work ethic.

“The airport is very spick and span, which we need to maintain 24 hours. As a cleaner, we have to be very vigilant with all small particular things about cleanliness,” she said.

Today, Azizah is a site supervisor at ATL Maintenance, where she’s been for 13 years.

The turning point in her career came with the introduction of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) and her company’s emphasis on upgrading. Azizah seized every opportunity for growth, completing 12 professional courses and pursuing a Diploma in Leadership.

“When I took up the Diploma in Leadership, it really showed me many ways to tackle workers, handle clients, and manage whatever problems arise in the building,” she shared.

Rising together

Azizah’s growth from cleaner to supervisor mirrors a significant change in Singapore’s cleaning industry.

When the PWM was first introduced to the sector in 2014, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for cleaning professionals like her.

The initiative went beyond just raising wages – it created genuine career paths.

For the first time, cleaners could see a clear route to advancement through training and skills upgrading. What was once seen as just a job began transforming into a profession with real prospects.

“Part of it is because of the upgrading courses, and also I think because of the mandatory increments and all that included in my salary,” said Azizah.

In the decade since PWM’s implementation, minimum wages for cleaners have more than doubled, with further increases planned. But for Azizah, it’s about more than just better pay – it’s about dignity and recognition of the essential work she does.

The fruits of labour

Her dedication to continuous learning has transformed her financial situation as well.

From earning just a few hundred dollars in her early days, Azizah now takes home around $1,950 monthly.

“With my current salary now, I’m really happy because there’s a lot which I can manage with the changes,” she said.

But her greatest pride lies in her sons’ success. Today, one is a gym manager and the other an IT professional, both married with their own families.

Her children, understanding the sacrifices she made, even encouraged her to find happiness again, supporting her decision to remarry.

Lifting others up

As a supervisor, Azizah is passionate about encouraging her team members to upgrade themselves, even those who face basic literacy challenges.

She brings to her leadership role the same high standards she learned at Changi Airport but tempered with understanding and support.

“I always emphasise to my cleaners to be proud of what we are doing right now. Without us, the place won’t be clean.

“When the company sends them for courses, I tell them to just go, even if they don’t know how to read or write. We must have that confidence in ourselves,” Azizah said.

She works closely with trainers to ensure workers who struggle with reading and writing receive appropriate support.

“The lecturers will give them simple tasks just for them to understand what they are doing as a cleaner.”

Never too late to dream

At 54, Azizah is planning to pursue a degree in leadership – a remarkable ambition fueled by positive workplace feedback.

Her personal life also has found new balance, enjoying travels with her husband and time with her grandchildren.

As she watches her grandchildren, aged 10, 8, and 5, grow Azizah passes on the values that shaped her success.

“Even though I’m a cleaning supervisor, I managed to do what I want and achieve what I want. I always emphasise to them, don’t look down on cleaners. We must respect everyone,” she said

Azizah’s journey from night shift cleaner to respected team leader embodies the spirit of the PWM, proving how determination, combined with the right support system, can create pathways for growth and dignity in essential services.

From the quiet nights at Changi Airport to her current leadership role, she has shown that with perseverance and the right opportunities, no starting point is too humble for success.

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