May Day Awards 2018: Comrade of Labour (Star) – Conferred on serving and deserving trade unionists who, after receiving the Comrade of Labour, continue to make significant contributions for four years or more to the Labour Movement.
Mention Captain Robin Foo and everyone in the Labour Movement will know the name.
We should since he’s been around for more than 40 years. He has been a member of the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) since 1977 and has been in the union’s executive committee since 1982.
In 1989, he was elected as the union’s president, and has helmed the position since.
Everyone in SMOU will also tell you that their president is wise, passionate, and gives his all to help the livelihoods of his members.
“My dad was a social welfare superintendent. Over the years, he helped a lot of people. So perhaps that rubbed off on me. So, when I told my dad that I was joining the union, he didn’t object to it, which I thought was great. I came in as a welfare officer. I did not come in because I wanted a high position in the union. It was never my intention,” he said.
Pivotal Role in Union
Throughout his illustrious career, Robin has played a crucial role in bettering the lives of members and seafarers, working tirelessly to improve their working conditions.
“For me, it’s important that the basic bread and butter issues of our seafarers are taken care of – especially their living conditions. On board the ship, seafarers will go through stress. In these situations, we will try to come in and make it better. We will do our part to help the best we can,” he said.
To this day, the 67-year-old visits sailing vessels to gather feedback from seafarers and look at how the union can help to improve their working conditions.
Robin is also on the management committee of the seafarer-welfare service provider Mission to Seafarers Singapore (MtSS). Through his active involvement in the committee, SMOU contributed $120,000 over three years to the MtSS Drop-in Centre in Jurong Port, in an effort provide better welfare services to seafarers.
When he is not busy looking after his members, Robin reaches out to the less fortunate through looking into the needs of homes such as the Henderson Home for seniors. SMOU has adopted the home since the 1980s and Robin currently serves on its advisory committee as chairman.
Caring and Sharing
Under Robin’s leadership and guidance, the union organises activities at the home to both spread love and care to the seniors, and most importantly, instil SMOU’s core values of caring and sharing in young members.
“Whoever wants to come in to serve in the union - he or she must serve with passion and love … Our young leaders must have this, and if they are willing to go the extra mile, better still,” he said.
In recognition of his contributions to the Labour Movement and his unwavering servitude to his members, NTUC has awarded him the Comrade of Labour (Star) Award 2018.
In fact, this is the second time Robin has won a May Day Award. The first was the Comrade of Labour Award in 2007. Never one to rest on his laurels, he has continued to contribute to the best of his ability.
“I’m very thankful to NTUC for recognising my work in SMOU and the Labour Movement. I didn’t do it all on my own. It was with the help of the staff in the union and my family that I achieved this award,” he said.
