30 AUGUST 2015 60 CENTS MCI (P) 044/12/2014

Prime Minister , National Day Rally 2015 2 NATIONAL DAY RALLY NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 Improving Housing Policies Singaporeans can look forward to new and enhanced housing schemes that will help them afford homes more easily. Here are the details.

By Ryan Chan

MORE Enhanced FOR ALL Family Support PM Lee outlines a slew of worker- Families now have more help friendly initiatives. at hand with the newly- By Ryan Chan announced pro-family here was much to cheer for on the Labour initiatives. We list them Movement’s side, as Prime Minister (PM) Lee here. T Hsien Loong made a number of announcements to better the lives of Singaporeans in his National Day Rally By Fawwaz Baktee speech on 23 August 2015. The Labour Movement’s call to raise the re-employment age has been answered – in a nutshell, a worker can be re- employed till the age 67 from 65 previously. (See page 4 for the Labour Movement’s response).

MORE FOR FAMILIES Changes made to housing policies will see the additions of the Proximity Housing Grant and Fresh Start Housing Scheme. The Special CPF Housing Grant will also be extended to more families. These new policies will see Housing Development Board (HDB) flats becoming more affordable for Singaporeans. Families will stand to benefit from the Baby Bonus Scheme now extended to every child, instead of just the first four children. Newborns will also receive more funds in their Medisave accounts, enough to cover their MediShield Life premiums until the age of 21. Fathers will also get more time to spend with their newborns. Paternity leave will be increased one extra week, bringing the total to two weeks, with the Government paying for the additional week. For more details of the announcements, take a look at our breakdown in the following pages. NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 NATIONAL DAY RALLY 3

INCOME CEILING FOR COUPLES BUYING NEW FLATS This is good for members of all collars ✔ Increased from $10,000 to $12,000 for HDB flats. who need to buy HDB flats. The ✔ Increased from $12,000 to $14,000 for Executive improvement to the Special CPF Housing Condominiums (ECs). Grant is beneficial to everyone. The raising of the income ceiling is good for PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Executives) who wish to buy HDB SPECIAL CPF HOUSING GRANT flats or ECs. The new Proximity Housing Grant ✔ Only first-time buyers are eligible. facilitates those who wish to stay near their parents ✔ Households with incomes of $8,500 and below will qualify. or children and can lead to better family support The previous ceiling was set at $6,500. and bonding. The new Fresh Start Housing Scheme ✔ Maximum grant amount doubled from $20,000 to $40,000. delivers on the promise to help those who fall between the cracks (of society).”

PROXIMITY HOUSING GRANT Yeo Chun Fing, General Secretary of the ✔ Introduced to support families to live together or closer to each Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) other. ✔ Married couples aged 21 and above and singles aged 35 and above will be eligible. ✔ Every Singaporean household will be eligible, whether first- time buyer or not. ✔ Grant of $20,000 for families and $10,000 for singles applying I’m happy that the Fresh Start for resale flat with parents. Housing Scheme to help low-wage workers living in rental flats is being ✔ No household income ceiling. introduced. I raised this during the last COS (Committee of Supply) Debate in March 2015, FRESH START HOUSING SCHEME where I made the call for special provision to ✔ Aimed at helping the group of people who may have previously be made to help low-income families staying purchased a flat, but are rental tenants now. in HDB rental flats. I am indeed very happy that ✔ The scheme will help make two-room flats more affordable something is being done because I believe it will indeed give them a fresh start to a new life.” through a shorter lease and stricter resale conditions. ✔ The Government will also provide counselling support, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and these families have to show they are “determined to get back on their feet and committed to putting their children through school” for the grant to be justified.

INCREASED The enhancements to the family Making The MEDISAVE GRANT initiatives are encouraging. We Every citizen newborn want to encourage everyone, including First Move will have an enhanced Medisave employers, to do their part in helping DBS Bank becomes one of Grant of $4,000 automatically employees bring up their children. These credited into their newly-opened children are the future of our nation.” the first organisations in CPF Medisave account. NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Singapore to introduce two weeks paternity leave.

By Fawwaz Baktee EXTENSION OF PATERNITY LEAVE here’s good news for dads-to-be working Currently, all working fathers are at DBS Bank! The bank announced on eligible for one week of paternity Amidst a tight labour market 26 August 2015 that it will implement today, companies are operating T leave. This has been enhanced the enhanced Paternity Leave scheme with by a week, paid for by the on a leaner structure and it would retrospective effect from January 2015. Government. To give employers be challenging to meet all workers’ DBS Group Head of Rewards Cheong Meng time to adjust, the Government needs. However, we hope employers Foong said: “At DBS, people are our most will first implement it on a see the extension of paternity leave important resource and we have always sought to voluntarily basis for companies. as a necessity for working parents. We support them in various ways.” also hope unionised companies will The implementation comes hot on the heels take the lead to extend their paternity of the bank’s existing pro-family initiatives leave on a voluntary basis. We are also – flexible work arrangements, and a flexible BABY BONUS happy that there is more help in terms spending account which employees can use to For babies born on or after 1 of Baby Bonus and Medishield grants fund health and wellness-related expenses for January 2015, the Baby Bonus for babies, providing some short-term the entire family. Cash Gift will be enhanced relief for parents.” The management has also worked closely with an additional $2,000. The with DBS Staff Union (DBSSU) over the years enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift NTUC U Family Director Toh Hwee Tin to enhance staff benefits and to build a better will also be extended to a couple’s workplace environment. fifth and subsequent child. “The union is glad that DBS is able to introduce the enhanced paternity leave scheme in such a short time. By being an early adopter At a quick glance, here’s what in store for the new arrivals. of this national scheme, DBS shows itself as leading the way in staff welfare. We hope this Birth Order Baby Bonus Cash Baby Bonus Plus Total After Enhancement Gift (new) will encourage more companies to step up 1st and 2nd $6,000 $2,000 $8,000 in support of national efforts to strengthen 3rd and 4th $8,000 $2,000 $10,000 family-friendly work environments,” said 5th and higher $8,000 (new) $2,000 $10,000 DBSSU President Nora Kang. 4 NATIONAL DAY RALLY NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 Re-employment Age Upped To 67

Efforts over the past years to raise re-employment age from 65 to 67 have paid off, says NTUC Deputy Secretary- General .

By Ramesh Subbaraman

ature and older workers in Singapore received a special announcement from M Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong. Singapore will legislate to raise the re- employment age from the current 65 to 67, announced PM Lee at the 2015 National Day Rally at the ITE College Central on 23 August 2015. This will be done by 2017.

WORKING LONGER Health Minister , who heads the Ministerial Committee on Ageing, will announce an Action Plan soon which will make Singapore a model for successful ageing. However, PM Lee said he wanted to give Singaporeans a “sneak preview” of the Action Plan Report during the Rally. He said many people in their 60s wanted to work longer. PM Lee noted that the Government raised the re-employment age to 65 three years ago and that unions and workers were happy. Employers too have accepted it, are adjusting and starting to benefit. He said while it is still too early to

judge, so far it seems to be working well. Every mature worker can be an evergreen worker.

TOO EARLY TO STOP WORK From the workers’ point of view, PM Lee NTUC’S EFFORTS PAYS OFF workers to management, and their hard work is noted that 65 may be too early to stop work. Responding to PM Lee’s announcement was greatly appreciated. Workers want the Government to raise the NTUC’s Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Heng “The tripartite partners have been re-employment age and they want to keep Chee How. He has been at the forefront of collaborative in this process and do working for as long as they are healthy. PM Lee championing the raising of the re-employment acknowledge that mature workers are able to said he hears this every time he attends a union age together with other union leaders. continue contributing their experience to the function. Responding to queries from NTUC This companies. This collaboration is the key to why “I reply, yes, I agree fully. We need to do Week, DSG Heng said he’s heartened that the tripartism is successful in Singapore,” said DSG this but at the right time. We must give our past three to four years of effort from the Heng. companies time to adjust, to work out practical Labour Movement has paid off, ever since the He called on all parties to work together arrangements, so that re-employed workers re-employment age was last stipulated at 65 in towards improving the employability of mature can be productive and not a burden on their 2012. workers, through encouraging them to upgrade companies,” he added. “The many rounds of negotiations between their skills and knowledge. PM Lee noted that the tripartite partners the unions, employers and the Government That’s because every mature worker can have been discussing this and he is happy to have contributed greatly to this outcome. be an evergreen worker as long as he works announce that they have reached an agreement Union leaders have worked hard on the ground hard and ensures that he remains relevant to a on raising the re-employment age to 67. to bring across the concerns of the mature changing economy.

NTUC THIS WEEK

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The Labour Movement, Now Closer To U On The Go! Scan here for mobile app My NTUC featuring exclusive content: get the latest news, special offers, merchants listing and a lot more! ANDROID IPHONE & IPAD NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 NATIONAL DAY RALLY 5 Re-employment Age Upped To 67

…with the support from the tripartite partners, there would be a strong chance that this increase in re- employment age is going to be well received and well implemented on the ground.” NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Ageing Successfully I’m happy with the raising of the re- employment age; I have certainly There’s some help coming seniors’ way been looking forward to it. There’s a lot to lend more meaning to their years. more to work on as we certainly have to take care of the companies and By Ramesh Subbaraman workers to see how they can transit into here is now a new $3 billion Action Plan for Successful the next phase. How do you Ageing to help Singaporeans age confidently while ensure that workers can still T leading active and healthy lives. One of the measures announced in the five-year initiative is contribute constructively? to raise the re-employment age in Singapore from the current 65 Employers must have to 67 by 2017. This will enable workers to work longer if they are willing and able to do so. the positive mindset that This was first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong the workers who can at his 2015 National Day Rally. contribute should be STAY HEALTHY TO WORK LONGER allowed to continue.” Elaborating on the action plan, Chairman of the Ministerial NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Committee on Ageing and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong Cham Hui Fong said a National Seniors’ Health Programme will be launched to empower at least 400,000 seniors aged 50 or older to age healthily. The programme will include healthy lifestyle campaigns and activities in the community and targeted interventions for The tripartite partners have been mature workers at the workplace. pushing for the re-employment age Minister Gan explained: “The adjustment in our re- employment age is an important step to create more to be increased to 67, and announcing employment opportunities for our seniors. In order to do so, it during the golden jubilee is wonderful. we also have to ensure that our seniors stay healthy longer and The Labour Movement has already that is why we are going to roll out the National Seniors Health Programme to empower the seniors so that they have more started its negotiation on getting more opportunities to stay healthy longer…” people to work longer…The Labour The 20-member Ministerial Committee includes NTUC Movement’s biggest job is Secretary-General and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Deputy Secretary-General and to ensure that members Senior Minister of State (PMO) Heng Chee How. stay fit for the job, as certain jobs are more physically WHAT’S THE PLAN? demanding.” The Action Plan for Successful Ageing will push out NTUC Vice-President and United about 60 initiatives covering 12 areas such as health Workers of Petroleum Industry and wellness, learning, volunteerism, employment, General Secretary K Karthikeyan housing, transport, public spaces, respect and social inclusion, retirement adequacy, healthcare and aged care, protection for vulnerable seniors and research. 6 NATIONAL DAY RALLY NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015

The Dialogue Session

NTUC SG Chan Chun Sing shares his views with unionists on various topics aired by PM at the National Day Rally 2015.

By Ramesh Subbaraman and Fawwaz Baktee

hallenging times await Singapore’s trade unionists, said NTUC Secretary-General ON THE LEAN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (SG) Chan Chun Sing. (LED) SCHEME C He was addressing some 300 union leaders at a dialogue on 27 August 2015 on As unions, you play the slew of announcements made by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the recent National Day Rally. an essential role in A hot topic raised during the two-hour session was the announcement that the re- the LED Scheme. As union employment age would be raised to 67 by 2017, but that did not deter unionists from querying SG Chan on a range of other issues. Here are the highlights of SG Chan’s views. leaders, when you evaluate proposals of companies with the tripartite partners, ON THE INCREASED PATERNITY LEAVE you have to ask where Increasing the Paternity Leave is a signal the plan to improve the that we are heading in the right direction. quality of jobs is. We are As the family structure changes, maybe one day prepared to accept that we would have a concept of Family Leave. From for companies to transit in NTUC’s perspective, I’m quite prepared to push becoming more manpower for this.” lean, they would need extra foreign manpower. ON RAISING THE RE-EMPLOYMENT AGE But these companies must Re-employment by 2017, why not earlier? The promise that at the end of answer is that the industry needs to adjust, the process, Singaporean we also need to adjust because we need to make workers’ jobs improve and sure that our workers who are re-employed get a workers’ pay go up.” good deal and are also productive so that the pay is commensurate with their effort. Given the The LED Scheme aims to help SMEs transit to become manpower-lean through temporary manpower policy uncertainty in the environment we need to give adjustments. For more information, log on to www. the tripartite partners time to adjust.” mom.gov.sg. NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL 7 Congratulations! Meet the National Day Award recipients. Compiled by Shukry Rashid

NATIONAL DAY AWARD – THE ORDER OF NILA UTAMA (FIRST CLASS)

CLOSE TIES Mr Lee served as the President of Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) for almost 26 years until 2014. Under his leadership, This is a recognition of SNEF worked closely with the Government and the Labour Movement, the contribution by SNEF playing a key role in shaping employment policies to benefit both in building a strong tripartite employers and employees. partnership in Singapore. I KEY ACHIEVEMENTS would like to pay tribute to the Contributions To The National Wages Council (NWC) – tremendous support given Mr Lee represented employers for the past 36 years and to SNEF by the Government provided balanced insights to NWC. He pushed for wage reform by restructuring wages from a seniority-based and NTUC and the entire structure in the 70s and 80s to a flexible and performance- Labour Movement as well as based wage system today. the employers and especially DRIVE FOR PRODUCTIVITY the 3,000 members of SNEF, Mr Lee served on the former National Productivity without which SNEF and Continuing Education Council (now known could not have been an as the National Productivity Council) from 2010 to 2014, where he galvanised employer support effective partner.” for a national effort to drive productivity. Mr Stephen Lee Ching Yen, Singapore National Employers SUPPORT TO IR ACT Federation (SNEF) Immediate Past Mr Lee supported the Industrial Relations President and current Director of (IR) Act amendments enacted in April Singapore Labour Foundation 2015 that provide professionals, Board managers and executives (PMEs) more options for union representation.

NATIONAL DAY AWARD – PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PBM) This Award is a recognition of our DIVERSE LEADER efforts. It encourages Ms Choo started out in the Labour Movement in 2001 as an Industrial Relations Officer, and rose through the ranks to hold us to strive harder and various appointments in NTUC. Besides her appointments in the better for the interest of Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union and the the workers, and reaffirm Women Development Secretariat, she is also the Lead for the NTUC Financial & Business Services Cluster. our commitment. I want to thank the Labour KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Movement for giving me Helping Women – As Director of WDS, Ms Choo is passionate the opportunity to serve, about the cause for enhancing women’s employability through training and upskilling programmes, which are anchored by and all our brothers WDS’ Back2Work with U (B2W) Programme. and sisters for your Advocate For Flexibility – Ms Choo spearheaded the U support. This is a great Flex movement in March 2014 to encourage employers and employees to exercise flexibility at the workplace, and advocates achievement and I am for employers to offer Flexible Work Arrangements. very happy to receive it Nurturing Women Leaders – Under her leadership in at SG50.” WDS, the percentage of women union leaders in the Labour Movement has increased from 34 per cent in 2011 to 36 Ms Sylvia Choo Sor Chew, Singapore per cent in 2014. Ms Choo led her WDS team in building Industrial and Services Employees’ capacity and developing capability so that they continue to Union (SISEU) Executive Secretary be represented at all levels of decision making in the Labour and NTUC’s Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS) Director Movement and provide a voice for the aspirations and concerns of working women. 8 NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015

NATIONAL DAY AWARD – PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PBM)

PASSION TO SERVE Mr Chan’s Labour Movement journey began 40 As a unionist, we years ago when he actively helped the Aircraft Engineers Branch of the now defunct Singapore can help our fellow Air Transport-Workers Union. He has served the colleagues and union Air Transport Executive Staff Union (AESU) since members to be treated 1988 in various capacities before becoming General Secretary in 2010. with respect and be given recognition by the company KEY ACHIEVEMENTS for their work contributions. Bettering Workers’ Welfare – Mr Chan’s Union work also enhances quantitative skills and intelligent reading of financial statements have helped secure many negotiated collective benefits for the settlements with the management, which improved workers, the company the welfare of members. and the country EFFECTIVE AND DEDICATED LEADER through the practice Since starting his Labour Movement journey, and promotion Mr Chan has been an effective and dedicated of harmonious leader in ensuring the foundation of sustainable growth in AESU. This includes caretaking AESU’s industrial relations finances, grooming the next generation of leaders, at all levels.” and instilling progressive bipartite and tripartite Mr Martin Chan Wing Sing, relationships. Air Transport Executive Staff Union General Secretary CONTRIBUTIONS TO NTUC Mr Chan has also contributed significantly to NTUC by sharing views on various issues concerning workers such as CPF.

NATIONAL DAY AWARD – NATIONAL DAY AWARD – PUBLIC SERVICE STAR (BBM) PUBLIC SERVICE STAR (BBM) Mr Lim’s involvement with the Labour Movement started in 1980 when Mr K Karthikeyan has been the Government decided to introduce compulsory inspection of private serving the chemical sector for vehicles. SLF accepted the Government’s invitation to set up a company to close to 30 years and always run a car inspection centre and Mr Lim helped SLF set up VICOM Private has Workplace Safety and Limited, becoming its Director in 1981 and Chairman since 1985. Health (WSH) on mind. As Chairman of the WSH Council, KEY ACHIEVEMENTS he brings all union leaders on When SLF established the Orchid Country Club (OCC), it turned to Mr the same platform to spread Lim for his assistance, involving him in the Green Committee and later the key messages and level up General Committee. Mr Lim was OCC’s Vice President from 2001 to 2008 performances across various and President from 2008 to 2011. industries.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Under his leadership, the WSH committee has developed The award clearly signifies the several practical assistance and promotional initiatives tremendous efforts put in by the that have helped to sustain and enhance the WSH Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF) performance in the chemical sector. and NTUC over the years in initiating, promoting and organising sports The Ministry of Manpower and social activities for the Labour appreciates the many years I Movement. The physical infrastructure have served in the Workplace Safety provided by the SLF gives an inclusive element of reaching all our Brothers and Health Council and I am very and Sisters and their families in the happy to help our members and NTUC and its trade unions in sporting fellow workers in safety.” and social activities.” K Karthikeyan, Workplace Safety and Health Council Mr Lim Jit Poh, SLF Leisure Enterprise and Pasir Ris Resort (Chemical Industries Committee) Chairman Chairman NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL 9

NATIONAL DAY AWARD – NATIONAL DAY AWARD – COMMENDATION MEDAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PBM) Ms Chua has been with the Mr Yeo joined Consumers Association of Singapore Labour Foundation Singapore (CASE) as a member of its Central (SLF) for 33 years. She joined as an Committee in November 2002. Over almost Executive in 1982 and held various 13 years, Mr Yeo has volunteered his time and appointments in the organisation effort in giving guidance and advice to CASE before being promoted to Senior on various issues related to consumerism and Assistant Director in 2014. helping to chart its future direction.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Over the years, Ms Chua has Under his guidance, CASE has adopted and contributed to several significant SLF projects such as the implemented fair employment practices that establishment of NTUC Enterprise Co-operative Limited benefits both employers and employees. and Mercatus Co-operative Limited. She also took on With good employment practices, CASE additional tasks in support of SLF’s mission to further the is able to retain, value employees and work together to achieve its development of the Labour Movement. organisational goals.

I am very grateful to have Union members and their families are been given opportunities all consumers and I was happy to over the years to support in play a part when invited to serve in CASE. I various meaningful projects and am humbled that my small contribution is initiatives of SLF and the LM.” recognised to be worthy of the award.” Ms Chua Yeok Mei, Singapore Labour Foundation Mr Yeo Chun Fing, Consumers Association of Singapore Central Corporate Services Senior Assistant Director Committee Member

Tackling Workforce Challenges

peaking on television talk show Channel SINGAPOREAN CORE In a recent talk NewsAsia “Perspectives” aired on 26 One issue on the Singapore workforce that was raised by a show, NTUC ASG SAugust 2015, NTUC Assistant Secretary- member of the audience during the talk show was how the General (ASG) said that workforce Government plans to ensure that the foreign manpower in Patrick Tay reiterates demographics are changing rapidly and there are Singapore passes on their knowledge to the local workforce. the importance of many challenges confronting Singapore. In response, ASG Tay said that developing the “Firstly, the ageing workforce. Likewise, we Singaporean core is crucial. making Singaporeans also have more tertiary qualified Singaporeans. He explained: “One thing we need to do is sector by the core of the You will see increasingly more professionals, sector, industry by industry, company by company, really managers and executives (PMEs),” he explained. develop core skills and build up Singaporeans and the workforce. He added that in the last 50 years, the focus Singapore workforce in the tight labour market situation for Singapore was on the manufacturing industry to transfer some of these skills and experience which we By Shukry Rashid that has a blue-collar, rank-and-file workforce. really need to stay ahead.” 10 GENERAL ELECTION FOCUS NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 Parliament Dissolved For GE

To date, the Labour Movement has fielded eight candidates LABOUR MOVEMENT CANDIDATES To date, the following candidates from the to contest at the upcoming polls. See the latest four below. Labour Movement will be contesting at the coming polls: By Ramesh Subbaraman

u NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing ingapore’s Parliament has been dissolved NOMINATION DAY - Tanjong Pagar GRC by President Keng Yam with a Nomination Day is the day when candidates u NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Sgazette notification on 25 August 2015. from the various political parties contesting the Chee How - Jalan Besar GRC The Elections Department has declared polls file their nomination papers. u NTUC Assistant Secretary-General that 1 September 2015 shall be Nomination The papers are usually filed at school Patrick Tay - West Coast GRC Day where candidates contesting the General halls which will be designated as nomination u NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Election shall file their nomination papers at centres in the various Group Representation Zainal Sapari - Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC the various nomination centres designated for Constituencies (GRCs) and Single Member u NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Ang the constituency. Constituencies (SMCs). Hin Kee - Ang Mo Kio GRC Polling Day will be on 11 September 2015 For the coming elections, there will be 16 u NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Yeo (Friday) and it is a public holiday. GRCs and 13 SMCs, making it 89 Members of Guat Kwang - Aljunied GRC Nine days of campaigning have been Parliament, up from the current 87. u NTUC Youth Development Unit Director declared by the elections department, and the Some 2.46 million people will be casting - Tampines GRC day before polling day which is 10 September their votes for the coming General Election, u NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited 2015 has been declared as Cooling Off Day. up from 2.35 million in 2011. CEO - Marine Parade GRC

General Election Watch

MR ZAINAL SAPARI MR YEO GUAT KWANG MR DESMOND CHOO MR SEAH KIAN PENG Mr Zainal, 49, will again be Mr Yeo, 54, will be contesting in Mr Choo, 37, is currently Mr Seah, 53, will once again fielded in Pasir Ris- Punggol Aljunied GRC. He previously served the Director of NTUC’s contest in Marine Parade GRC, GRC. He is currently the as a Member of Parliament for Youth Development Unit. led by Emeritus Senior Minister chairman of Pasir Ris-Punggol Ang Mo Kio GRC, and has been a He is also the Deputy . He has served Town Council. Member of Parliament since 1997. Director of NTUC’s in the constituency since 2006. An NTUC Assistant Mr Yeo currently holds the Industrial Relations Unit Mr Seah was also the Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Zainal position of Assistant Secretary- and serves as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament from is also the Director of NTUC General in NTUC and is Chairman Executive Secretary for 2011 until its dissolution on 25 U Care Centre and NTUC of the Migrant Workers’ Centre. the Attractions, Resorts & August 2015. Care & Share Department. He is concurrently the Director for Entertainment Union. He is currently the CEO of He also serves in the Building the Labour Movement’s Small and Mr Choo will be NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Construction And Timber Medium Enterprises Secretariat contesting in Tampines Limited and serves as an Industries Employees’ Union and Workplace Safety and Health GRC. Advisor for the Amalgamated (BATU) as its Advisor and Secretariat. Union of Public Daily Rated Executive Secretary. Workers. NTUCse_NTUCthisweekNDawardsadvert_FA150828.pdf 1 8/28/2015 2:58:57 PM

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12 SOCIAL ENTERPRISES NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015

Savings Galore! Pioneers have enjoyed savings of nearly $4.4 million from the Pioneers OK! Package between October 2014 to June 2015.

By Ramesh Subbaraman

t has been more than OK for pioneers who have been enjoying I NTUC Social Enterprises’ (SE) Pioneers OK! Package since it was launched in October 2014. Giving an update on the various schemes under the package which include initiatives such as special discounts at SE outlets, priority queues and Pioneer Exclusives, NTUC Social Enterprises said THE ROVING TRUCK MORE TREATS AHEAD the benefits have been making life better for Nearly 6,000 pioneers and seniors have enjoyed Pioneers will also be treated to the end-of-year pioneers. the programmes that the Pioneers OK! roving graduation concerts put together by some Those who patronised their outlets have truck brought into the heartlands since 25 April 2,500 children from over 100 My First Skool saved more than $4.4 million from October 2015. pre-school centres under NTUC First Campus in 2014 till June 2015. A six-month programme, the roving truck November 2015. “The Pioneers OK! Package is NTUC’s has covered 18 locations thus far and completed The concerts, with the theme of the way of showing our care and concern for five of its six themes, namely ‘Know Your transformation of Singapore, are aimed at our pioneers. I am happy that pioneers are Health’, ‘Let’s Cook’, ‘Eat Well’, ‘Learning Fun’, showing appreciation to pioneers. benefiting from the special discounts to help and ‘Relax’. them better manage the cost of living. But The truck will cover six more locations more importantly, they are also benefiting from with the theme of “Stay Active” till the end of a less tangible Pioneers Priority programme September 2015. designed to make their lives easier,” said NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing.

HEALTH REPORT NTUC Health’s Unity Pharmacy has also helped more seniors and pioneers save on their purchase of health supplements and other healthcare products since the launch of the Pioneers OK! package. The pharmacies have seen an increase of 28 per cent in the number of sale transactions involving seniors and pioneers. The discounts given out by Unity Pharmacy have also increased in tandem, by more than 50 per cent. NTUC Health’s Unity Denticare has also been bringing good and affordable dental treatment to the doorstep of pioneers through the mobile dental clinic. More than 300 pioneers have benefited from the mobile dental clinic’s services from October 2014 to July 2015.

NIC95159 Congratulatory Ad for Board of Directors_06_FAP.ai 1 28/8/15 9:12 PM 14 WEEK IN REVIEW NTUC This Week 30 AUGUST 2015 Snapshots A quick round up of what went on in and around the Labour Movement recently.

By NTUC This Week Team

Condolences

ormer NTUC Central Appreciating Staff Committee member and PAP Labour Member of Parliament Singtel celebrates SG50 by treating staff and family F(MP) Bernard Rodrigues, 82, passed away in Australia on 17 August 2015. to a fun time at Universal Studios Singapore (USS). He was involved with the Labour Movement during its formative years By Ryan Chan in the 1960s together with the late Mr Devan Nair and other founding Friends and family of Singtel staff had a great time at the USS from 13 to 15 August 2015 this NTUC members. year, only requiring to pay a token fee of $10 to enjoy all the shows and rides. In 1963, the late Mr Rodrigues together with Mr Mahmud Awang ENGAGING PERSONALLY and the late Mr Ho See Beng were the General Secretary of the Union of Telecoms Employees of Singapore (UTES) Thuvinder Singh was first three NTUC leaders to be elected delighted with the wonderful gesture from Singtel. PAP Legislative Assemblymen. He said: “The Union is heartened to see the Singtel management’s way of engaging their staff Mr Rodrigues was PAP – they were stationed at the USS entrance over three nights distributing programme leaflets, light Assemblyman for Telok Blangah. sticks and mingling with staff and their families. Upon Singapore’s independence “On a separate note, we have an excellent LMR (labour-management relations) and we are in 1965, he was PAP MP for confident that we will retain this relationship for many more years to come, and we pledge to keep Telok Blangah in Singapore’s first our LMR flag flying high.” Parliament. An outspoken MP, Mr Rodrigues constantly spoke up to protect workers’ and unions’ rights. During would be taken care of, and ascertain the 1960s, following the spilt Assistance For the employers’ ability to render help and between the communist-controlled protection for their workers. and non-communist NTUC unions, Fire Victims labour laws were tightened to curb UPDATES ON AFFECTED runaway powers of unions. MWC heads down to SGH According to MWC, as of 28 August 2015, Among other things, he proposed to help migrant workers three of the affected workers had been that unions be empowered to start affected by the fire breakout discharged after receiving outpatient proceedings for the prosecution of treatment from the hospital while the other employers who were disregarding at Pulau Bukom. three were in a stable condition and are labour laws. under observation at SGH. Following the NTUC’s By Shukry Rashid MWC said that it is glad that sub- Modernisation Seminar in 1969, contractor PEC Contractors, the employer he was among a group of union he Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) of the six injured workers, as well as Shell leaders who helped re-shape the has rendered assistance to migrant Singapore, are committed to render all Labour Movement based on the workers affected by a fire that broke possible support and assistance to the recommendations of the seminar. T injured workers and their families. out at Shell’s Pulau Bukom Manufacturing Mr Rodrigues was also a founding Site on 21 August 2015, injuring six workers. MWC iterated that employers have a member and later Executive The next day, MWC deployed its incident legal obligation to provide safe working Secretary of the now defunct Pioneer response team to the Singapore General conditions for their workers and that they Industries Employees’ Union (PIEU) Hospital (SGH) to assess the conditions should be protected in all circumstances. which he helped to make formidable of the injured, reassure them that they during its time. CONGRATULATIONS

Sister Diana Chia Siew Fui President, NTUC and General Secretary, Healthcare Services Employees’ Union On being conferred BINTANG BAKTI MASYARAKAT (BBM) The Public Service Star

Sister Sylvia Choo Sor Chew Executive Secretary, Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union and Director, NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat On being conferred PINGAT BAKTI MASYARAKAT (PBM) The Public Service Medal

Singapore Industrial & Services Employees’ Union 2015年8月30日 售价 60c MCI (P) 044/12/2014 重新受雇年龄延长至67岁 职总副秘书长王志豪说，工运过去这些年来 倡导和推动延长重新雇佣年龄顶限至67岁的努力已取得成果。

李显龙总理于8月23日在工艺教育中区学院举 太早退休 在回应本报询问时表示，工运自2012年政府规定重 行的国庆群众大会上宣布一个好消息：政府将在大 从工友的角度来看，65岁退休似乎太早了一点。所 新雇佣年龄顶限为65岁以来，便继续争取再延长至 选后的2017年之前立法，把重新雇佣年龄顶限从现 以，工友们希望政府提高重新受雇年龄顶限，好让他 67岁。对于过去三四年来的努力终于见到成效，他表 行的 6 5岁提高至67岁。 们可以在健康允许的条件下继续工作下去。 示欣慰。 今年的国庆群众大会也一并庆祝新加坡建 总理反映，他每一回出席工会的活动都听到 他说：“工会、雇主和政府三方的多轮协商在 国50周年。 这个诉求。 很大的程度上促成了这一结果。过去这些日子，工会 “我回答道，是的，我完全同意。我们须要这 领导人勤奋努力，不断向管理层传达年长工友的心 延长工作周期 么做，但得选择恰当的时机。雇主需要时间调整部 声，提出他们关注的课题。对于他们的辛勤工作，我 李总理表示，许多年长人士希望晚年无忧。为此， 署，做好切实可行的安排，如此，重新受雇的工友才 们表示极大的赞赏。在协商的进程中，劳资政伙伴都 卫生部长颜金勇领导的人口老龄化课题部长级委 能 有 生 产 力 ，不 致 成 为 公 司 的 负 担 。” 能秉持互相协作的精神，并且认可年长工友可以凭借 员会将应需求宣布一套“幸福老龄化行动计划”， 在演讲中总理也高兴地宣布，劳资政伙伴经 他们多年的工作经验继续为公司做贡献。劳资政协 以期成为我国的成功老龄化模式。 过多次讨论后最终取得协议，同意将重新受雇年龄 作之所以能在新加坡取得成功，这种风雨同路的精 总理也表示，许多60来岁的工友希望可以继 顶限 延长 至67岁。 神是致胜的关键。” 续工作。为此，当政府将重新雇佣年龄顶限提高至 王志豪呼吁各方携手鼓励年长工友提升工作 65岁的时候，工友和工会都很高兴，雇主也能接受， 工运努力见成效 技 能 和 知 识 ，以 改 善 他 们 的 就 业 能 力 。因 为 ，努 力 不 并调整相关条例和事宜，开始享受其带来的好处。 多年来站在工运前线与其他工会领袖倡导和争取延 懈，与时俱进，可使每一名工友跟上经济发展的步 至于延长重新受雇年龄措施是否取得预期 长重新雇佣年龄的全国职工总会副秘书长王志豪 伐 ，成 为 长 青 工 友 。 成 效 ，总 理 表 示 现 在 来 判 断 未 免 为 时 过 早 。