~ More than $7 million raised in 2024 by NTUC-U Care Fund to assist lower-income members and their families ~
In line with National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)’s mission to improve the lives of workers in Singapore, the NTUC-U Care Fund (U Care Fund) is developing two new programmes to support lower-income members with caregiving responsibilities. A total of $5.4 million will be set aside for the next three years (from 2025 to 2027) to fund these two new programmes, which aims to alleviate financial pressures faced by caregivers.
Through NTUC’s year-long #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations1 (#EWMC) in 2023, workers shared that one of their top concerns was balancing multiple responsibilities both at home and the workplace. The two new programmes are part of NTUC’s ongoing efforts to better meet the needs of members with caregiving responsibilities. More details will be shared in due course.
NTUC Secretary-General Mr Ng Chee Meng said, “NTUC has consistently advocated for better lives and livelihoods for workers from all walks of life. That is why we are developing two new programmes to support lower-income members with caregiving responsibilities. They often find themselves in a double bind – caring for their loved ones while balancing the demands of their jobs. We hope these programmes will lighten their load and enable them to better fulfil their caregiving duties.”
Mr Leng Say Boon, a beneficiary of U Care Fund’s Special Assistance and School Bus Transport Subsidy Programme2, shared, “As a single caregiver to two young children, it has been a struggle managing expenses while taking care of my children. I’m grateful for the assistance provided by U Care Fund, which has gone a long way to help with extra costs and provide support for my children’s well-being. I hope the new programmes will help caregivers like me to provide a stable and supportive environment for our children to grow up in.”
Another beneficiary of U Care Fund’s programmes, Mr Desmond Tan, said, “The NTUC Care Fund (Education Awards)3 has been very helpful in easing the financial burden of education costs for my three children, allowing us to invest more in their future.” As a parent to a child with special needs, Mr Tan added, “Balancing work and caregiving responsibilities have been a struggle at times. With these new programmes, I hope that more families will receive help to manage some cost of caregiving, such as medical expenses.”
Other NTUC-U Care Fund Programmes to Assist Lower Income Workers
This year, NTUC-U Care Fund raised $7.2 million in donations from long-standing supporters and new donors. These funds will support the Fund’s various assistance programmes aimed to helping lower-income members and their families, including the two new caregiver programmes, which will have $1.8 million set aside for 2025. Over 10,000 NTUC union members and their families have benefitted from these targeted programmes in 2024.
For instance, over $2 million has been set aside for the NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) programme4 to help approximately 10,000 lower-income union members and their families stretch their dollar. Eligible members can submit their applications when it is open from mid-November to mid-December 2024. More details will be updated via the website.
Earlier last month, NTUC announced that it has set aside $700,000 to help 3,500 youth and school-going children through the NTUC Care Fund (Education Awards)5. These awards aim to motivate lower-income union members’ school-going children, both at the tertiary and non-tertiary level, to excel in their studies.
For youths facing adversity due to sudden and unforeseen circumstances, the NTUC Care Fund (Youth Enable)6 grant announced on 25 May 2024 provides continual support for youths in IHLs to complete their studies.
Recognising that workplace injury remains a top concern for freelance point-to-point and delivery workers, the NTUC Care Fund (Work Injury Relief)7 provides bridging aid to eligible members who encounter injuries during the course of their work. This aims to help affected workers tide through a period where they are unable to work due to the injury sustained. A total of $120,000 has been set aside for this scheme, and eligible members stand to receive support in the form of $250 worth of NTUC FairPrice vouchers within 72 hours upon successful application.
Enhancing Welfare for Lower-Income Members
On top of NTUC-U Care financial assistance programmes, it also partners social enterprises to provide lower-income members with access to recreational activities. For instance, in collaboration with U Care Fund, NTUC Club will be launching the Empowering Dreams Programme to inspire and uplift children and youth from lower-income families. The first activity on 24 November 2024 will involve about 100 beneficiaries and their families taking part in a Family Day Out at Sentosa. More details will be shared in due course.
Additionally, NTUC Club’s Family Fun Fiesta 2024 will bring together up to 4,000 beneficiaries over two days, from 30 November to 1 December, for a complimentary day of fun at Downtown East. Each family of four will receive a package, which comes with complimentary treats such as admission tickets to Wild Wild Wet or a movie screening at Cathay Cineplex Downtown East, in a bid to promote greater work-life balance and better well-being for lower-income members.
Looking ahead, the U Care Fund will continue to strengthen its fundraising efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of lower-income members and their families. From alleviating financial burdens and providing essential support to members facing hardship, to helping members’ children build a brighter future through educational subsidies and supporting the recovery of members in times of contingency. The U Care Fund will also continue to widen its donor pool and explore new avenues to garner public support.
As a champion of workers' interests, NTUC continues to explore new ways to address the diverse needs of all worker segments, particularly lower-income members who may require additional support due to rising cost of living. NTUC cares and will continue to offer targeted support that meets the unique needs of the specific segment groups.
1 NTUC’s #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations (#EWMC) was a year-long engagement with over 42,000 workers across various life stages and types that aimed to discover workers’ challenges and aspirations. More details available here.
2NTUC Care Fund (Special Assistance) provides a one-off cash relief of up to $150 to eligible union members to help them tide through the higher cost of living. Additional quantum will be given to each eligible school-going child taking private school bus transport.
3The NTUC Care Fund (Education Awards) recognises the academic successes of school-going children and provides support to motivate them to excel in their studies. More information available here.
4The NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) is an assistance programme which aims to assist lower-income union members to defray the cost of necessities and their children’s school expenses for the new year. More information available here.
5The NTUC Care Fund (Education Awards) recognises the academic successes of school-going children and provides support to motivate them to excel in their studies. More information available here.
6 The NTUC Care Fund (Youth Enable) provides an annual stipend for beneficiaries to complete their first tertiary certification, or up till four years, whichever comes earlier. More information available here.
7The NTUC Care Fund (Work Injury Relief) provides bridging aid to eligible freelance point-to-point and delivery workers who encounter injuries in the course of their work. More information here.
