An office cleaner quit last month after she had enough of pay cuts, longer working hours and loss of benefits in four of the five times a new cleaning firm took over the contract.

The 58-year-old's monthly pay did increase over her more than 10 years of service - but only from $370 to $400.

Her sorry state, mentioned by labour chief Lim Swee Say at a seminar last Thursday, is common among cleaners, security guards and other low-wage workers.

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