The Labour Movement has helped a record number of union members
this year.
NTUC gave out $23 million to over 175,000 workers and their
families- its largest number of handouts under the U-Care
fund.
It says this far exceeds the 60,000 to 80,000 handouts distributed
in a typical year, an indication of the severity of the economic
downturn.
Programmes rolled out by the labour movement this year were
targetted at helping union members affected by the
downturn.
Its U-Care Immediate Assistance programme received an overwhelming
response.
40,000 workers who were retrenched, placed on shorter work weeks or
have suffered pay cuts, applied for the relief which came up to
$8.5 million.
While 68,000 workers and their family members had their burden of
living expenses lightened with U-Stretch vouchers which went
up from $50 to $80 this year.
$5.4 million of U Stretch vouchers were disbursed.
The movement also gave out bursaries and scholarships worth over
$1.2 million to children from lower-income members.
That's 20% more than the usual amount given out in an average
year.
And to conclude the year's efforts, the movement also gave out over
$5 million worth of Back to School vouchers to help needy children
prepare for the new school term.
This will benefit some 43,000 recipients.
--938Live