SINGAPORE: The labour movement disbursed a total of
S$9.13m through U Care Fund to low-income union members and
families through six different assistance programmes this
year.
This translates to helping over 90,000 low-income
members and their families.
The assistance programmes are U Stretch vouchers, U
Care Back To School vouchers, Family Recreation & Fun
Carnivals, U Care Education Co-Funding scheme, and donations to
NTUC Eldercare Trust and NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons
Fund.
The NTUC concludes its U Care Fund efforts for the year, with a U
Care Back To School Fair. The fair is being held at the Toa Payoh
Central Amphitheatre (outside Toa Payoh Library) from 9-11
December.
Organised yearly to complement the Back To School voucher
programme, the fair reaches out especially to low-income members
with school-going children, to help lighten their expenses for the
new school year through exclusive deals and special promotions on
school-related merchandise offered by participating
merchants.
The fair promotions are also extended to all union members.
In 2011, S$3.6 million worth of U Care Back To School vouchers were
disbursed to help over 29,000 school-going children of low-income
union members prepare for the new school year.
Each child received S$125 worth of Back To School vouchers, which
can be used to buy school-related items from participating retail
outlets and authorised suppliers at schools under the Ministry of
Education. The vouchers can also be used at the Back To School
Fair.
NTUC Care and Share director, Mr Zainudin Nordin, said: "This year,
with concerns like rising cost of living falling on the shoulders
of our workers, we have reviewed the application criteria of our
assistance programmes.
"We have since increased the income ceiling so as to reach out to
even more members. In total, the U Care Fund has disbursed about
53,000 voucher booklets, over 8,000 recreation packages to some
32,000 union members and their families, and supported over 6,000
students through co-funding of our unions’ bursary and scholarship
programmes.
"We will continue to monitor the economic situation and be prepared
to do even more when the need arises."
Mr Mohd Ali Bin Mohd Salleh, a 47-year-old taxi driver who
benefited from both the U Stretch and Back To School programmes,
received S$725 worth of assistance this year.
He said: "With six school-going children and as my job does not
guarantee a stable income, it can get really difficult financially
especially when we are looking at such a gloomy economy
outlook.
"I cannot express how grateful I am receiving these vouchers by U
Care Fund. They have helped tremendously especially with expenses
for my children’s new school term.”
- CNA/ir
