This Festival Is For
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60 cents | http://www.ntucthisweek.org.sg | MICA (P) 295/10/2007 23 MAY 2008 Pg Pg 8 12 Labour Movement Supports Model Workers Pg Win ‘The Year In Pg E!hub@Downtown East Incentive Trip 4 Singapore In Cartoons’ 7 NWC Recommendations This Festival Is For By Jansen Yeo o one can accuse the National Trades Union time as part of the May Day celebrations, aimed to bring the Congress to be all work and no play. The new NTUC “U” brand to a wider audience. Labour Movement had gone out in full force to It was also an event for the workers of Singapore, engage the public over the weekend of 17-18 helping them understand the Labour Movement better, May 2008, turning Civic Plaza, Ngee Ann City, fi nd out more about the benefi ts of union membership and Ninto a hive of activities. The U Festival, organised for the fi rst simply have fun with their family and friends. And where better to attract the crowd than in the heart of the city at Orchard Road. Driven by NTUC’s Membership Department, The U Festival U Festival also saw the was a big hit participation of NTUC’s Social because the staff’s Enterprises such as NTUC “hard work had made Club and NTUC Fairprice it all possible. They as well as Young NTUC and endured working nEbO. under the hot sun “We wanted to showcase and sacrifi ced their the different aspects of the weekends to make this Labour Movement,” said U Festival a success.” NTUC Competency Director (Membership) Ryan Cheong. Fang Chin Poh There was plenty of fun U Festival Organising Committee Co-Chairman and games at the festival for everyone. The more active and adventurous ones took up the Hole-In-One Golf Challenge and rock wall climbing; families had a go at guessing the value of groceries at the U Price It Right station; there was a touch of zaniness with the human bowling game, Zorgball; and the children were having a good time at the Ball Pit while their parents were busy signing up for union membership and with other interest Now What Is Going On Here... NTUC Secretary-General groups. Lim Swee Say takes a It was a Labour Movement team effort which saw the U quick peek at one of the games played at the U Festival. Festival attracting a crowd of about 50,000 visitors over the two days. Pictures by Alvin Toh Win 2 Sets of Goodyear F1 Tyres (195/55/15) See page 14 for details Sponsor: TTWW 223May08Final.indd3May08Final.indd 1 55/22/08/22/08 112:29:322:29:32 PPMM festival•special 3 What Were Doing We signed up with U Family because of the attractive offers of “fun-fi lled activities, exclusive promotions and privileges. We really enjoy the carnival atmosphere here at U Festival. This event is really for the working people of Singapore. Yap Yeow Chong, 41, with his family at the U Family station. How Do I Get Out Of This? Child Prodigy At Work. Becoming Too Immersed In His Fun Apparently. k At F1 Glory. Queuing For A Crac My husband and I signed up as NTUC Members so that we can accumulate LinkPoints and enjoy rebates “whenever we do our grocery shopping at NTUC FairPrice supermarkets. We’re also interested in signing up for training and skills upgrading programmes at subsidised rates. More importantly, we trust the NTUC brand. It’s been around for very long.” Fatima Zahida (left), 39, signing on the dotted line with her husband. It’s the fi rst time we’re organising the U Festival. It’s an inclusive event for “workers of all collars, ages and Tiger Woods’ Newest Challenger. nationalities. The response has been tremendous; the hot weather has not deterred visitors to have a look at what the Labour Movement has to offer for workers of Singapore. They are our target and we want them and their families to enjoy themselves thoroughly. This festival is for them.” Tan Chai Kun (sixth from left), Chairman, U Festival Organising Committee . Are You Sure If I Push This Button, More People Will Sign Up As NTUC Members? Snakes And Ladders Game sist The Giant Even Adults Can’t Re TTWW 223May08Final.indd3May08Final.indd 3 55/22/08/22/08 112:30:482:30:48 PPMM 4 caringfor • maydaymodelworkerAwards NTUC Media Co-operative Limited Chairman Seah Kian Peng [email protected] Chief Executive Offi cer Seng Han Thong [email protected] Chief Operating Offi cer Alvin Wong Pek Kin [email protected] A Trip of I The NTUC This Week Team Managing Editor Shirley Tan-Oehler [email protected] Deputy Editor Low Wee Poh [email protected] Senior Journalist Marcus Lin [email protected] Journalists Jansen Yeo [email protected] Naseema Banu Maideen [email protected] Roshini Mohan Krishnan [email protected] Executive Editor Ho Seo Teck (Chinese) [email protected] Journalist Wong Teck Tian (Chinese) [email protected] Art Director Edmund Seah [email protected] Executive Designers Mohamed Nasuhar Soeyoeti [email protected] Charles Chong [email protected] Resident Photographer It was a pat on the back of the Alvin Toh Sales 208 May Day Model Workers by Joseph Loh [email protected] the Labour Movement. In addition Jimmy Lim [email protected] Mike Chew to recognition with a May Day [email protected] Chris Seng Model Worker award, these [email protected] Anabel Lim deserving workers were treated to [email protected] Sam Gan an incentive trip to Bangkok and [email protected] Gena Ang [email protected] Pattaya. As the trip served as an Subscription Jenny Liau insight to the rich cultural heritage [email protected] Publisher of Thailand, it also was a time NTUC Media Co-operative Limited Address 1 Marina Boulevard #14-01 NTUC Centre Singapore 018989 for these model workers to share Phone 62360555 Fax 65381068 Printer Times Printers, Singapore A Hearty Welcome valuable experiences of their jobs The NTUC Family Directory NTUC Switchboard 62138000 and build camaraderie with one Customer Centre 62138008 Business Centre 62138811 another. They each returned with [email protected] Community Development 62138201 more inspiration to continue to Social Enterprises A Sweet Welcome... Childcare 63919233 The fi rst trip to a shine as model workers. Club 65829876 (Chalet Reservation) bee factory marked 65891666 (Banquet Sales) a sweet welcome to Choice Homes 62138822 Thailand. ElderCare 62138000 Fairprice 64560233 Foodfare 67570330 Healthcare 67440068 Income 63462663 LearningHub 64166611 We made new friends, exchanged Link 62235225 ideas and learnt new things. We Media 62360555 Thrift & Loan 65347360 will work better and we will never stop Affi liate Serving One here. Thanks to NTUC for making this trip a RTRC Asia 62924844 Another... Authentic “ © Copyright 2008 Thai meals were successful and memorable one.” The publisher owns the copyright to all tastier with good photographs and articles in this publication. company. Lisut Ahzahari Noordin, Gardener, Jurong Bird Park No photograph or article may be reproduced in part or in full without the consent of the publisher. TTWW 223May08Final.indd3May08Final.indd 4 55/22/08/22/08 112:31:472:31:47 PPMM maydaymodelworkerAwards•caringfor 5 f Inspiration We learned a lot about Thai Culture, tasted delicious Thai cuisine, “and experienced the Thais’ hospitality spiced with their beautiful smiles. As model workers, we must also serve with such pride.” Gary Haris, Security Manager, KH Security Agency Private Limited Immersing In Thai Culture Getting In Tune... This is what we call hands-on- Saying It The Thai Way... Some simple lessons experience. on local greetings. A Thai Beauty Within Transformed Into In Deep Thoughts... Shoppers are spolit for Minutes... Participants had a chance to choice with a wide spread of Thai delights adorn Thai costumes and accessories at at the Local Products Market. Wat Arun. For More Good Times...ha Moments temple. of prayers at the Four Face Budd Building Stronger Bonds Letting It All Out... These well-deserving participants full of Thai ipants shared warm rocked the dance fl . These are bags A Toast For Good Work... Partic oor. d. Happy Bargains.. experiences as they dine fl avours for loved ones at home. Refreshing Retreat With Nature The Chao Phraya River is the ‘vein’ of the city in Bangkok. Cruises and river “taxis ferry locals and visitors providing a chance to take in some of the stunning temples. The group explored the ‘klongs’ - the canals that are home to the famous fl oating markets of the city, where it was a chance to appreciate Thai homes and gardens.” Ruth Tan Mui Cheng, Co-Curricular Programme Executive, Educare Schools Services Private Limited nake charmer and . Model worker, s Settling In With Nature... A breatht A Little Animal Kingdom.. aking cruise by the Choa Phya Canal Part of refreshed both mind and soul. Bambi. TTWW 223May08Final.indd3May08Final.indd 5 55/22/08/22/08 112:32:232:32:23 PPMM special•ulaunch 6 commentary Rising Costs Many Ways to Skin the Beast by Jessie Yeo Be it growth dividends, Workfare he past few weeks Income Supplements or appeared to be most “employers’ one-off special eventful to many in lump sum payment, the Asia. With rising prices trick in coping with the of rice, cooking oil, rising costs of living lies not Tfuel prices, many were hit by in such one-off payments higher costs of living. Many took alone. A prudent lifestyle to the streets to protest against and discretionary savings the increasing costs of living whenever possible are while others put pressure on better and more sustainable their government to do more to way of coping with not just help them cope with the infl ation.