3 AUGUST 2007 40 cents http://www.ntuc.org.sg MICA (P) 129/12/2006 Workers For Bringing The Workers Join The 500,000-Member SMEEU hit the ground well- Club. Join NTUC armed. Cameras for instant photographs for submission Message Home with the registration forms.Well- versed native speakers of the Tamil language. And with these, information sheets in three languages: English, Some of the Tamil and Bangladesh. While the first one was no workers are challenge, the other two were a feat. Sudip Kumar Nath, 30, very interested and Vidhya Sagar, 29, made it in upgrading possible. They both have been NTUC Members ever since they themselves, especially came to work in Singapore at the better educated Keppel Shipyard in 2004. n ones. They were I wanted fellow very keen to learn workers, who have more information on come far away from NTUC LearningHub’s home to enjoy the courses offered at same benefits that I subsidised rates. have. Many of them, like me, have found Patience And Care ... Mr Rasabalan at work as he conveys the message to workers on the ground. Piragasam Munisamy value in the 24-hour insurance coverage that would mean a lot By Naseema Banu Maideen their queries on the grounds, these queries and concerns with you,” said migrant workers saw the worth of Mr Rasabalan. to our families. THE SHIPBUILDING and Marine parting with their nine-dollars as “Besides family and health, these Sudip Kumar Nath Engineering Employees’ Union has made subscription. workers valued upgrading opportunities,” the first move to reach out to recruit A significant benefit that tugged at said Mr Piragasam. workers who have crossed boundaries for their hearts - the NTUC Gift. With “Some of the workers are very There is better a living in Singapore. And this time, the the NTUC Gift, members are covered interested in upgrading themselves, connectivity as we hail Union has ventured right to their living for up to $30,000, for 24 hours, on and especially the better educated ones. from the same land premises to make this possible. Over three off work. They were very keen to learn more evenings in March, April and July, 159 Workers also saw much value in the information on NTUC LearningHub’s and speak the same migrant workers have become NTUC competitive medical fees offered with courses offered at subsidised rates.” language. They are Members. A first-of-its-kind recruitment NTUC membership. From between $12 The Union went the extra mile to better able to relate exercise for non-traditional sectors, the -$14, members can seek consultation extend the recruitment exercise further to us. Union set to work within the vicinities and medication at NTUC Medicare for two hours to accommodate workers of two different hostels which house Family Clinic located at 10 designated who were working overtime. Vidhya Sagar migrant workers in the shipbuilding and clinics across the island. It has been worth the while as these marine industry. workers who play a role in the blooming Having set foot on our land, migrant Making It Happen marine industry have now come onboard workers have become part of us, part of Before these benefits were conveyed to the labour movement to enjoy a pool of Singapore’s workforce. LM2011’s vision the majority of Indian and Bangladeshi benefits. n towards an inclusive labour movement nationals, the communication strives to embrace all nationalities as part barriers had to bridged. SMEEU’s of one family. As the labour movement Executive Committee Member provides benefits that are of relevance Piragasam Munisamy and Internal The Art to these workers, they are better able to Auditor Rasabalan Palayyan broke the identify themselves with its cause. barriers. of Ageing “Speaking to them in their languages Work In Mind, is the first step to breaking the ice. They Gracefully Family at Heart tend to identify with you and relate Close Scrutiny...The migrant workers As SMEEU’s and NTUC Membership more readily. Once they are comfortable Page 8 read deeply into the benefits of NTUC membership. Department’s recruiters of the day cleared with you, they begin to share their l NDP... It’s More Than An Event Pg 2 l Saying Goodbye On The Best Of Terms Pg 6 l Commentary Pg 10 l 2 3 AUGUST 2007 NDP... It’s More Than An Event By Yusof Lateef Pictures by Chin Boon Lian, Lum Ngia and Low Wee Poh FIVE months, from the assembling of the contingent, internal training and rehearsals, combined rehearsals, preview and culminating with the actual show on 9 August 2007! And each time ranged from five to eight hours spent... Wow! “It has been a worthwhile effort and journey,” said NTUC Contingent Commander Peter Kwek of the National Transport Workers’ Union, “To me, it’s also a test of my ability to galvanise the team for a spectacular show. The whole nation... world is watching us on parade.” Well, he is not wrong, Mr Kwek has done the NTUC proud with his able leadership and consultative manner. To me, it’s also a test of Besides the younger participants, there are my ability to galvanise the parade veterans in the likes of Mr Leo Sequeira of Singapore Teachers’ Union and Mr Ng Hee Seng team for a spectacular show. of Amalgamated Union of Public Employees. The whole nation...world is Being the oldest participant and a parade watching us on parade. veteran for the last 30 years, Mr Sequeira, 63, is not about to slow down. In fact, he is also Peter Kwek an avid veteran runner in the inter-union cross country races organised by NTUC Club’s Sports & Wellness. to share with their fellow participants. “We try Mr Ng has participated under the NTUC to make the training and rehearsals interesting,” banner for the last 22 years. “I am quite happy said Miss Samsinah Hassan of The Singapore to participate to show that at 52 years old, I am Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union. still fit and able to do it. This should be a form If last week’s preview is a good gauge, NTUC of motivation for the younger ones to come can stand proud and tall as the NTUC contingent Leadership-By-Example… Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean (second from forward and serve,” quipped Ng. come 9 August. right), Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen The participants not only take part in the The contingent will be given a send-off by (third from left) and Minister of State for Education and Manpower Gan Kim Yong (not in picture) join the teachers and students in the NDP’s National training and rehearsals, but also turn it into a NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How Education Show on 21 July 2007. “family picnic”. They cook and make sandwiches on National Day itself. n 3 AUGUST 2007 3 Celebrate Singapore: City Of Possibilities Catch NDP Live Fret not if you don’t have the NDP 2007 tickets. Besides watching the live telecast, you can get into the swing of thing by going to one of the four vantage points - Merlion Park, Fullerton Hotel, Esplanade Bridge and Esplanade - to catch the NDP highlights. Or you can catch all the celebratory activities from your mobile devices and computers by logging on to www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm . NDP Highlights 6 pm & 7.30 pm 6.45 pm 6.50 pm 7 pm Red Lions Day & Night Free Fall State Flag Fly Past F-16s Fly Past and Bomb Burst Naval Divers Helocast Display 7.15 pm Apache Helicopter Aerial Display 7.55 pm & 8.10 pm Fireworks 7.10 pm Next Week: NDP 2007 Special Fast Interceptor Crafts, RHIBs NTUC This Week will carry the pictures 7.05 pm and PCG DisplayGiant Jellyfish 7.20 pm of the NDP 2007, the “Young NTUC Water Curtain Explosion around Marina Bay Dream Ship Celebrates! National Day 2007”’s largest human Singapore flag and National Day Observance Ceremonies. 4 3 AUGUST 2007 Club Happenings nEbO Kicks Off Its Care Programme Clearly Caring By Jenny Toh Operations Manager, NTUC Club nEbO members, together with students of Institute of Technical Education College East’s Beauty Therapy nEbO Care Community pampered and smoothened more Department, gave the seniors a VIP treatment with a warm than the wrinkled faces of 20 seniors from NTUC ElderCare welcome before the hour-long facial and shoulder massage. with its first outreach project on Friday, 20 July 2007. It was Some elderly were seen drifting off into dreamland after the its way of showing its appreciation and care for the elderly short pampering. They had to be roused from their peaceful Feeling Comfortable... Seniors from ElderCare getting pampered. who have given so much to the community. slumber for the lunch that followed the massage. Union Box New Exco For UWEEI UWEEI has a new line-up for its Executive Committee for the term 2006-2010. President Francis Lim Pan Hong Vice-President Fahmi Abu Bakar General Secretary Cyrille Tan Soo Leng 1st Assistant General Secretary Yusope Soeratin 2nd Assistant General Secretary Lim Swee Hock Executive Secretary Halimah Yacob Deputy Executive Secretary Ong Keau Assistant Executive Secretary Neo Gim Kian General Treasurer Tan Richard Asst General Treasurer Loke Yuet Yeng Council Members Jason Lee Seh Kiat Patsy Oon Geok Hoon Tan Lye Huat Thomas Ong Woon Hwee Wu Leong Seng Catherine Chia Cheng Kiow Ng Hai Leng Raymond See Hock Hin David Phang Jek Twoon Peh Hwee Been Hamzah Mohd Nor Internal Auditors Lim Ka Hock Goh Hoon Tien KSSU Has Moved Keppel Services Staff Union is now at: 10 Hoe Chiang Road #04-02A Keppel Towers Singapore 089315 Tel: 6324 9086 Fax: 6221 0216 Email: [email protected] 3 AUGUST 2007 5 Childcare, Eldercare To Share $243,000 Raised At Charity Golf Game Caring For The By Jansen Yeo Young And Old TWO SMALLER cooperatives that NTUC Childcare offers full-day early deliver high social impact have received childcare and preschool education to a shot in the arm.