22 JUNE 2014 60 CENTS MCI (P) 183/12/2013 YOU ARE NOT ALONE LM launches the ‘Appreciating U’ Movement to honour all workers, starting with cleaners in our midst. 2 FEATURE NTUC This Week 22 JUNE 2014 A Big Thank You! NTUC is bringing back the ‘P’s and ‘Q’s with a nationwide ‘Appreciating U’ Movement to ignite the spirit of kindness and recognition towards workers at all levels. NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Zainal Sapari (in orange T-shirt) joins guests in giving guests a big thumbs up to cleaners. By Ramesh Subbaraman and An appreciation lunch treat, especially for the outstanding work performance. Naseema Banu Maideen 115 cleaners working in the vicinity of HDB The SLF has also granted a $2 million fund Hub, was organised by NTUC U Care Centre for over two years towards this movement he Labour Movement believes the and the Housing and Development Board and for low-wage workers initiatives . ‘Appreciating U’ movement is all Staff Union (HDBSU). T set to rev up the momentum for SG Lim joined NTUC Central Committee TOUCHING MORE LIVES more people to recognise the invaluable members and management partners in Already, more than 200 organisations, contributions of working people to society. donning aprons to be on the serving side of including private companies, government The initiative also aims to cultivate a spirit the buffet. agencies, town councils and educational of kindness towards the workers, starting off The event was supported by the Singapore institutions have pledged to show their with a special group of unsung heroes – the Labour Foundation (SLF) and the Building appreciation to their cleaners since June cleaners. Construction And Timber Industries this year, in the form of high tea and lunch Held at HDB Hub, the ‘Appreciating U’ Employees Union (BATU), treats, as well as presentation of recognition launch event on 16 June 2014 was attended SG Lim also presented recognition certificates and vouchers. by NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Lim Swee certificates to 26 cleaners from HDB Hub, Said SG Lim: “We are not stopping with Say, NTUC Central Committee members, public streets and town councils who were cleaners. We will reach out to more groups of with cleaners as the main guests of honour. nominated by their employers for their workers and recognise their efforts and make On the whole, Singapore is clean, green and safe. It is important to recognise that many Singaporeans and foreign workers work very hard to keep it this way. Without them, Singapore will be a very different place. We should explore ways to make their jobs Easier, Smarter and Safer. By showing our appreciation to them, we aim to create NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say is all smiles greater awareness in every Singaporean.” as he dishes out servings of lunch to cleaners at NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say the event. NTUC This Week 22 JUNE 2014 FEATURE 3 The Ones Who Add A Shine These workers go beyond work to warm the hearts of people like you and me. The guests-of-honour, the cleaners, enjoying a light-hearted moment. their job a better job. And this year will be the year Madam Ang Geok Kheng of breakthrough with the Progressive Wage Model Even at 85, Madam Ang Geok Kheng for the cleaning, security and landscape workers.” is full of smiles and zest at work. She In total, more than 10,000 cleaners will enjoy has been taking a 15-minute walk these special treats, with more organisations slated from her home at Toa Payoh Lorong to come on board in the coming months. 1 to her workplace at HDB Hub every morning for the past 13 years. She UPPING WAGES takes great pride and dedication in Speaking at the event, NTUC Assistant her daily work. Secretary-General (ASG) and NTUC U Care Centre Director Zainal Sapari said that for the past two years, NTUC and its tripartite partners have worked very hard to push for cleaners to earn better wages. From 1 September this year, all cleaning companies will be licensed and many workers will be paid wages according to the Progressive Wage Model. ASG Zainal explained: “As a labour movement, NTUC knows that helping the cleaners must go beyond the call for better pay through the Progressive Wage Model. As a society, we must give them the recognition, pride and dignity that they are playing an important role. Workers of today, even low wage workers, also want the satisfaction and identity, beyond sustenance, that define them as a worker contributing actively to our nation building.” AWARDS FOR ROLE MODELS Also announced at the event was a national- level ‘Appreciating U – Our Cleaners’ Awards to recognise exemplary cleaners, cleaning Madam Tagamas companies and their service buyers who treat The move from working their cleaners well. in schools to offices The award will also recognise customers who three years ago needed have gone the extra mile to make the cleaners some form of adapting around them feel appreciated. A dinner will be for Madam Tagamas, 68. held on 27 June to honour the winners. But she coped fine and is now enjoying her job as a cleaner at HDB Hub. Mr Mohamed Buang Ali “After all, it is all Mr Mohamed Buang Ali, 57, never about cleaning and taking frowns or sighs when residents at the responsibility in your The Labour Movement rolled out the area he cleans make additional requests job. I know that as long Progressive Wage Model (PWM) on to help them discard their bulky items as I learn the correct way 21June 2012 to level up workers in the from their flats. areas of productivity, career, wages and of doing things, I will be “It is all part of my job, and I am skills. Starting with the cleaning industry, okay,” she said. PWM today is impacting all other sectors happy to do it,” he said. of the workforce. 4 APPRECIATION NTUC This Week 22 JUNE 2014 #TributeTo Cleaners2014 #SelfieContest Check out the candid shots taken by everyday people to thank cleaners for keeping our Lion City beautiful! NTUC This Week 22 JUNE 2014 APPRECIATION 5 The Pic With The Most Likes! 112K LIKES! 1.7M PEOPLE SAW THIS POST! icknamed Dr. JiaJia, this six-year-plus boy has been warming the hearts of many with a pic he took with cleaner Anthony Nfor the #TributeToCleaners2014 #SelfieContest organised by the Labour Movement . Posted on his Facebook June 17, 2014, with the help of big brother and family members: Hi Everyone, this is Uncle Anthony, he works at Marina Square Shopping Centre as cleaner for six months. He is 57-year-old, single. He does not have mobile or home phone. My mother said if this photo win a $100 voucher (Tribute to Cleaner...s Contest) for Uncle Anthony, we will bring it to him personally. Please like this picture to help Uncle Anthony to win the voucher. Thank you very much & Good luck to Uncle Anthony Posted on June 18, 2014 This really surpass our expectation. We never expect our picture with cleaner uncle Anthony will reach 1.7m people and garner 112k likes 18 hours after posting it. Thank you all so much for your kind support to help uncle Anthony wins a $100 voucher for the Tributes To Cleaners Contest. Some of the heart-warming comments on Dr. JiaJia’s post: ➩ “Can only like once. Does this help? Like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like…” ➩ “Good luck to jiajia and uncle anthony. As a 23 year old, Young cleaner myself, it’s really nice and heartmelts to see there are still kids still appreciating cleaners like us…” Selfie Time! ➩ “Winning or not, uncle Anthony, we are all behind you 100%.” In an effort to get more of the general public involved, the ➩ “What a beautiful thought with such noble intentions!” NTUC U Care Centre launched its first ‘Tribute To Cleaners’ ➩ “Great boy with a heart of gold. Thanks for showing us that kind selfie contest, whereby individuals can submit photographs people still exist today.” taken with their cleaners together with a description of how “If i could give a million like to uncle anthony, i will do it because their cleaners have made a positive impact in their work and ➩ my father is also a cleaners or we call it a janitor and im very living environments. These entries can be submitted to the proud of him…” NTUC U Care Centre’s, ‘I Care For My Cleaners’ Facebook page (www.facebook.com/icareformycleaners) with the ➩ “Jiajia. That is really sweet thing to do for Uncle Anthony. Hope he hashtags #TributeToCleaners2014 #SelfieContest. The best gets enough likes and wins. You and your family are really lovely submissions of each week win $100 worth of NTUC FairPrice people to try and help Uncle Anthony.” vouchers for their featured cleaners. Contest ends 30 June 2014. ➩ “A noble profession and I salute his happiness and good nature. He deserves highest respect for public service.” 6 PROTECTION NTUC This Week 22 JUNE 2014 Gem At Work Meet 77-year-old re-employed security officer Mr Kadar, whose one special quality is the way he shines in his line of work. By Naseema Banu Maideen he robust and sprightly mature worker is clearly an outstanding T role model for his younger colleagues. Mr Mohammad Kadar Allah Pitchay, 77, works as a Security Officer with Triple ‘S’ Protection Private Limited. He is one of the company’s re-employed workers.