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The NTUC has plans to form a new National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA) to look after the interests of freelancers who teach sports, enrichment and wellness in schools and communities. This covers Sport Singapore, People’s Association and CCA (Co-Curricular Activity) coaches and instructors in the fields of sports, music, fitness, dance and wellness etc. NTUC estimates that there are some 5,000 full-time freelancers in these fields.
According to the Ministry of Manpower’s statistics, freelancers, or self-employed persons (SEPs) continue to form about 8 to 10 per cent of Singapore’s workforce. While this percentage has remained fairly stable over the last decade, the innovation drive and expansion of the gig platforms have made it easier for individuals to become freelancers and offer their services directly to buyers. Thus, it is important that NTUC deepens its reach and enhances its services to the freelancers, to take care of those who choose freelancing as their full-time job.
The new association will leverage NTUC’s network and resources to effectively advance the interests of these freelancers. Working closely with NTUC, NICA seeks to rally the different communities together so that they can become a stronger voice in representing themselves, resolving work issues and ultimately enhancing their work prospects.
Members of NICA will enjoy exclusive insurance deal upon sign-up
For a start, a subscribing NICA member stands to benefit from an exclusive insurance deal when they sign up. Members will enjoy up to 50 percent discount off their first year’s premium for a prolonged medical leave insurance product that mitigates loss of income. Additionally, they will enjoy the full suite of NTUC benefits including insurance coverage against death and total and permanent disability (TPD) , a $250 UTAP training support per calendar year , access to profession-relevant master-classes and courses, exclusive deals and discounts with merchant partners, and others.
On the formation of the new association, NTUC Assistant Director-General and Director of the Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit Ang Hin Kee said, “NTUC has been working with various groups of coaches and instructors, and we realise that they face similar issues, common threats and training needs. These groups of coaches and instructors have done good work. We hope to leverage these networks to do more. By forming a National Instructors and Coaches Association, we hope to gather the different voices and make it a stronger and more representative one.
“To kick start our work with these coaches and instructors, we understand that due to the nature of their work, they are susceptible to physical injuries or illnesses which could easily put them out of work for weeks without income. In line with the recommendations made by the Tripartite Workgroup (TWG) on Self-Employed Persons to make available an insurance product that provides a daily income for prolonged illness or injury, the association seeks to start them off with an appropriate insurance product, and hopes that this exclusive membership tie-up would help mitigate their loss of income when the need arises.”
Justin Teh, a freelance netball coach expresses his views, “As a freelance coach where my job involves much physical activities, any injury could mean being out of action for some time and that equates to zero income during that period of time. While the intent of the new association is to help us freelancers mitigate some of that income loss, I think it is more important that the association is representative enough to speak or bargain with industry stakeholders to improve our livelihoods and careers as freelancers.”
Association also hopes to take care of freelancers in areas of protection and work prospects
In line with the recommendations made by the TWG for Self-Employed Persons, the association hopes to also look into areas such as work-related disputes and training.
“Taking reference from what NTUC has been able to do for our taxi and private hire vehicle drivers through the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association, we hope to enhance the workplace environment of our freelance coaches and instructors and resolve workplace-related issues. We will also continue to work closely with existing partners like NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and NTUC LearningHub to put together skills-competency frameworks, support our freelancers in career coaching and mentoring and organise Masterclasses to help enhance the work prospects of our freelancers,” added Mr Ang.
Going forward
NTUC and NICA recognise synergies in establishing close collaborations with industry stakeholders like Sport Singapore, Ministry of Education, People’s Association and other freelance community groups. Thus, it is important that the Labour Movement and its tripartite partners progressively work on expanding and leveraging the relevant networks, to form alliances with partners so as to reach out to more freelancers in these fields and together, advance the interests of these freelancers.
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