If Singapore’s labour environment were a play, unions would be one of the lead actors.
Traditionally, the role of unions was to carry out collective bargaining for workers and to protect them from exploitation.
Things have changed – the role of unions in Singapore today has grown to include social, recreational and educational activities for union members and their families.
Unions have been supporting their members in the education of their children for decades.
Many unions also tap on the NTUC-U Care Education Co-Funding Scheme which supports unions by co-funding a portion of the bursaries and scholarships they give out.
The most recent three unions who gave out bursaries and scholarships were the Singapore Industrial & Services Employees’ Union (SISEU) and The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU) and the Housing Development Board Staff Union (HDBSU).
SISEU gave out a total of $95,000 to 371 its members’ children across primary to tertiary levels recently. Each recipient also received special $30 NTUC FairPrice vouchers with their award.
Addressing the recipients at the SISEU bursary and scholarship awards ceremony on 4 August 2018, SISEU Council of Advisors Member Tin Pei Ling said: “We should always seek to pay it forward. When you are able, extend your help to others around you too. Some of you may also one day be able to follow in the footsteps of your parents who are union leaders and help your fellow colleagues at the workplace.”
SMMWU held its 45th scholarship and bursary awards on 29 July 2018 at the NTUC Centre.
This year, the union gave out a total of $71,350 to 61 scholarship and 199 bursary awardees. NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Melvin Yong, who was there as guest-of-honour, encouraged all attendees to appreciate what their parents and support groups have done for them.
It's not only big industrial unions who are supporting their members’ children with bursaries. House unions have also been doing their part.
Sometimes, unions work with their management partners to organise such bursary ceremonies, which is a testament to their strong labour-management relations. For instance, HDBSU and HDB management recently worked together to organise a bursary award to recognise the achievements of their staff members’ children.
Into its 18th year, the bursary award ceremony saw HDB and HDBSU giving out a total of 132 bursary awards.
Other unions who have given out scholarships and bursaries in the first half of this year include the Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers, Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union, Healthcare Services Employees' Union and the Education Services Union.
