By Naseema Banu Maideen, NTUC This Week
The Labour Movement rolled out $8.3 million worth of welfare assistance to brighten up the lives of lower-income members in 2010 through its U Care Fund. In its strive to be the most caring Labour Movement in the world at all economic times, the U Care Fund has distributed about 64,000 vouchers, 6,800 scholarships and bursaries, and 10,200 recreation packages to union members and their families.
These efforts were wrapped up with the distribution of $3.75 million worth of U Care Back to School vouchers to help 30,000 children of low-income union members prepare for the new school come 2011.
Each child received $125 Back to School vouchers, which they could use to purchase school-related items from participating retail outlets and authorised suppliers at schools under the Ministry Of Education. The vouchers could also be used at the annual U Care Back to School Fair from 10 to 12 December 2010 held at Toa Payoh Central.
The mega Back to School Fair had vendors such as Popular Book Company, Bata Shoe, Pacific Bookstores, NTUC FairPrice, Evergreen Stationery, PC Connect and The Point Optical.
For the first time in 2010, the members were rewarded with LinkPoints for their purchases at the fair, on top of exclusive discounts to all union members.
How The U Care Fund Has Impacted Low Income Members
| Programme | Amount Distributed ($) |
| U Stretch vouchers ($30 per voucher) | 1,021,530 |
| Family Recreation & Fun Carnival ($100 per family package) | 1,020,200 |
| U Care Scholarship/Bursary Top-Up scheme | 561,495 |
| Back to School vouchers ($125 per voucher) | 3,750,000 |
| Donation to NTUC Eldercare Trust | 1,000,000 |
| Donation to NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund | 1,000,000 |
| Total | 8,353,225 |
