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Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Heng Swee Keat, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) President Mary Liew, NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Ng Chee Meng, and union leaders from Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), National Taxi Association (NTA) and National Private Hire Vehicle Association (NPHVA), visited Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa to show their appreciation to workers in the hospitality sector and point-to-point drivers earlier this morning.
Hotel adjusting to the Covid-19 pandemic
During the visit, DPM Heng, President Mary, SG Ng and FDAWU President Julie Cheong, also learnt how Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa and its workers adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic one year on. Additionally, they also held a chit chat session with 12 of Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa staff to learn how their work in different jobs in the hotel has evolved and how they had to adapt to the COVID-19 situation.
Point-to-point drivers supporting one another
Two union leaders each from NTA and NPHVA, representing our point-to-point drivers, also met DPM Heng, President Mary and SG Ng. The drivers shared that while business has not gone back to pre-COVID-19 levels, they and their members managed to tide through 2020 with the help of the Government, NTUC, tripartite partners including operators and platform owners, as well as the two associations. In spite of their incomes being adversely affected, the union leaders continued to support their fellow point-to-point drivers in whatever ways possible – be it volunteering at the NTUC Pop-Up Driver Care Centre or helping their members in applying for the relevant grants and support. Our point-to-point drivers also acquired new skills to monetise their time. When commuter traffic is slow, those who are trained with new skills are able to take on temporary gig jobs that are available or even move into a new job.
Support from the Government and NTUC
Over the past year, initiatives from the Government and NTUC such as the Special Relief Fund, Self-employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) and NTUC Care Fund (Covid-19) have helped workers cope with the livelihood challenges they faced due to the unprecedented impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Other schemes like the SGUnited Jobs and Skills package and the NTUC Training Fund also provided opportunities for workers to take on new jobs and traineeships through training and upgrading.
NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng lauded the resilience of our workers and companies through this challenging period. In the ongoing fight against COVID-19, he remains confident that together with the Government's and employers’ continued support, the Labour Movement is able to help workers, especially the more vulnerable workers, achieve better wages, welfare and work prospects so that all of us can protect and strengthen our social compact.
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