NTUC Fairprice Vouchers - A "Gift" for the New Year
16 December 2003… The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will be disbursing NTUC Fairprice vouchers worth $1 million to union members who are in financial hardship, to help them defray a certain portion of their living expenses, especially in light of the coming festive season and impending increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) to 5% in year 2004. This project is supported by NTUC FairPrice, a co-operative in the NTUC family.
This is in addition to the earlier relief package announced on 9 October 2003, where five NTUC Cooperatives (NTUC FairPrice, NTUC Income, NTUC ChildCare, NTUC Foodfare, NTUC Healthcare) and NTUC Club had put together a $20.8 million relief package to cushion the impact of the increase in the GST from January 2004, as well as the Public Transport Assistance (PASS) vouchers package worth $3 million announced on 8 September 2003.
NTUC Fairprice Vouchers
Each eligible family will receive a one-time $100 worth of NTUC FairPrice vouchers, which will be valid for one year from date of issue, i.e. 16 December 2003. As this scheme is targeted to assist the lower income families, the guidelines in disbursing the vouchers are:
1) Total gross household monthly income of $1,500 or below, or;
2) Per capita household monthly income not exceeding $450.
Union members can either approach their respective unions/branches or NTUC Customer Services Centre to apply for the vouchers with effect from 16 December 2003.
Comments
"We as leaders of the labour movement should and must help those in need through practical and meaningful ways. $100 is not a big sum, but we believe each and every little gesture counts" said Mr Lim Boon Heng, NTUC Secretary-General.
S Chandra Das, Chairman, NTUC FairPrice: "At the request of NTUC Secretary-General Mr Lim Boon Heng to help union members who are financially strapped, NTUC FairPrice is happy to donate $1 million vouchers toward this cause. Lending a helping hand to union members in need is an extension of our belief in serving, caring and sharing. It is also another way of thanking the unions for their support for FairPrice over the last 30 years."
