16 Aug 2010
1 The recent conclusion of the Labour Movement’s fundraising for the year on 2 August 2010 had resulted in contributions of $11.6 million towards the U Care Fund, surpassing its $10 million target for the year. Out of the total raised, $5 million has been set aside for the U Care Back to School vouchers to assist 40,000 children of low-income union members with school-related expenses. Each school-going child who is successful in the application will receive $125 worth of vouchers, which are valid till 15 February 2011.
2 With major contributions from the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF), NTUC FairPrice Foundation, NTUC Choice Homes and NTUC Income, the U Care Fund has been able to maintain its strong support towards the Back to School initiative for six years, since its commencement in 2005. The U Care Back to School vouchers can be used to purchase textbooks, shoes, uniforms and other school-related items from bookshops and authorised suppliers at 337 Government and Government-Aided schools, 12 Junior Colleges and one Centralised Institute under the Ministry Of Education. In addition, there is also a Back to School Fair that will take place from 10 to 12 December later this year. Please see Annex A for more details on voucher usage.
3 The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)’s Care and Share Director, Mr Zainudin Nordin said, “Although the economic situation seems more optimistic this year, we are still maintaining strong support towards the Back to School vouchers because we believe in a strong foundation in education for our children in good and bad times. Therefore, we will be distributing $5 million worth of Back to School vouchers to a target of 40,000 children of low-income families this year.”
4 Mr Jeffri-Din Bin Said, a vector control workman aged 43 from the Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers said, “This is one of the U Care programmes I really look forward every year because it greatly helps with my expenses for my children’s new school term. I have 4 children, which means I can potentially save $500 for their school-related items, so I am extremely grateful for the useful assistance by the Labour Movement.”
Eligibility Criteria
5 Union members can apply for all school-going children within their family, subject to the availability of vouchers. The eligibility criteria for union members are:
i) Gross household income of $1,800 and below; OR
ii) Per capita income of $500 and below
Application Period
6 The application period for the vouchers will be from 16 August to 30 September 2010. Ordinary Branch union members can apply directly with the respective unions they belong to. For General Branch union members, they can download the application form from http://www.ntuc.org.sg/backtoschool or obtain the application form from the NTUC Member Services Centre located at NTUC Centre, 1 Marina Boulevard, #B1-01, One Marina Boulevard S(018989). Further enquires may be directed to the NTUC Hotline at 6213 8008.
Mr Zainudin Nordin
Director
Care and Share
National Trades Union Congress
Annex A
The vouchers (in denominations of $5 and $10) are valid for purchase of school textbooks, assessment/reference books, stationeries, school uniform/PE attire/ shoes/socks/bags, spectacles, haircut, or any other school-related items at the following:
• Bookshops and authorised uniform suppliers at Government and Government-Aided Schools (Primary and Secondary), Junior Colleges and Millenia Institute under MOE; all ITE Co-op Shops and MOE-registered Special Schools
• NTUC “Back to School” Fair from 10-12 Dec 2010
• * Selected NTUC FairPrice Outlets (applicable to special stationery pack only)
• * All BATA Retail Stores (except Changi Terminal 1)
• * All POPULAR Retail Bookstores
• * All EC House Outlets
• * All Evergreen Stationery Outlets
• * All The Point Optical and Eyecare Specialist Outlets
