Application for Back To School vouchers opens from 28 Sep to 26 Oct 2009!
27 September 2009
The Labour Movement U Care fund has set aside $5.4 million for children of lower-income union members
1. The Labour Movement has embarked on its final programme for the year - the Back to School vouchers - after raising a total of $23.2 million for the U Care fund in May 2009. It will distribute the remaining $5.4 million in the form of Back to School vouchers to eligible union members to help them tide through difficult times. Each successful school-going child who is successful in the application will receive $125 worth of vouchers.
2. With key contributions to the U Care fund such as the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF), NTUC FairPrice, NTUC Income, NTUC Club, NTUC Healthcare and NTUC LearningHub, the Labour Movement has been able to maintain its strong support towards the Back to School Programme, which is in its fifth year since commencement in 2005. The Back to School vouchers can be used to purchase textbooks, shoes, uniforms and other school-related items from bookshops and authorised suppliers at 362 Government and Government-Aided Schools (excluding independent schools), 15 Junior Colleges and 1 Centralised Institute under the Ministry Of Education.
3. Apart from participating retail outlets, union members can also use their vouchers at the Back to School Fair happening on the weekend of 5-6 December 2009 at three locations: Downtown East, Jurong East and Toa Payoh Central. The vouchers will be valid till 31 January 2010. Please see Appendix A for further details.
4. 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 Process
5. The application period for the vouchers will be from 28 September to 26 October 2009. 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 or obtain the application form from the NTUC Customer Service 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
APPENDIX A
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the objective of giving out Labour Movement “Back To School” vouchers?
A1: The objective is to assist union members who are in financial hardship, in particular the low-income workers, to defray partially the cost of school-related expenses for their school-going children.
Q2. Which group of school-going children are these vouchers meant for?
A2: These vouchers will assist the following MOE-registered schools:
Q3. How much vouchers will be given out?
A3: A total of $5.4 million worth of vouchers is expected to be given out, benefiting up to 43,200 children based on $125 worth of voucher per child.
Q4. What are the eligibility criteria?
A4: Union member who has:
a. Total gross household monthly income of $1,800 or below, or;
b. Per capita income not exceeding $500/- if household income is more than $1,800.
c. In addition, for members who do not meet the income criteria, unions could exercise some flexibility and consider on a case-by-case basis.
Q5. How much worth of vouchers would a successful applicant get?
A5:
Q6. Are unions allocated with a fixed number of vouchers?
A6: Allocation is based on fixed percentage on size of membership base and previous utilization rate.However, unions with excess vouchers will return to a common pool to be redistributed to other unions who may require more vouchers. Unions that do not have enough will be also given more from the common pool, subject to availability.
Q7. How do unions members apply?
A7: Union members who meet the eligibility criteria are to apply with their respective unions:
Applicants will need to submit relevant supporting documents such as marriage certificate, child(ren)’s birth certificate, membership/payslips together with the application.
Q8. When is the application period?
A8: The application period will open from 28th September to 26th October 2009.
Q9. How will applicants know the outcome of their applications?
A9: Applicants will be informed of the outcome by the respective Unions/NTUC Customer Service Centre and will collect the vouchers directly from the Unions/ NTUC Customer Service Centre.
Q10. How are these vouchers to be used?
A10: The vouchers (in denomination of $5 and $10) can be used:
Q11. What is available at the NTUC “Back To School” Fairs?
A11: At the “Back To School” Fairs, special arrangements/discounts have been made with the participating vendors for recipients and union members.
Q12. Where/When can we collect the Used Text Books?
A12: The Used Textbooks Scheme is organized by NTUC FairPrice. It will be opened to needy students/parents on 5th December and for the public on 7th Dec to pick and select textbooks for re-use. We will be sending you the templates for your identified low income workers, for priority selection of text books.
Q13. Can the vouchers be converted to cash?
A13: No, the vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash.
Q14. What is the validity period of these vouchers?
A14: The vouchers will be valid for use once the school’s booklist is made available till 31 January 2010 for all except the “O” level and “A” level students. The validity dates of these vouchers will not be extended upon expiry.
Q15. Are the vouchers transferable?
A15: Vouchers are transferable in the sense that they are not personalised and are subject to theft, loss and may still be used by other parties who present them. As such, successful applicants are strongly encouraged to keep the vouchers safely.
Q16. What happens if the successful applicant loses the vouchers?
A16: Once the vouchers have been received by the successful applicant, it will be his/her sole responsibility to keep them safely. Lost vouchers cannot be replaced. Exercising personal responsibility in safeguarding the vouchers is advised.
Q17. If the vouchers have been tampered with or defaced, can they still be used?
A17: Vouchers should be kept safely and presented in reasonably good condition to avoid being unacceptable for use. NTUC reserves the right not to recognise or accept tampered or defaced vouchers.
Q18. What if someone found a voucher that does not belong to him/her?
A18: Lost and found vouchers can be returned to NTUC Customer Service Centre, Basement, NTUC Centre, No 1 Marina Boulevard, One Marina Boulevard (Raffles Place MRT), Singapore 018989.
Q19. What if someone is found selling the voucher(s)?
A19: NTUC reserves the right to confiscate the voucher and inform the union and/or to blacklist the member from applying for vouchers in future.
Q20. Who can I contact if I need further information?
A20: Ordinary Branch members can contact their respective unions while General Branch members can contact the NTUC Member Service Centre or NTUC Hotline at 6213 8008.
