Each day, some 25,000 public transport workers get to enjoy affordable meals at 46 canteens operated by National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) at bus depots and interchanges islandwide.
Come February next year, these canteens will have healthier food options endorsed by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) with the Healthier Choice Symbol permanently on the menu. This marks a significant step by the union to encourage members to eat and live healthier and is part of its “Healthier Worker, Happier Worker” project.
“We are mindful that many of our public transport workers are above the age of 50, and we need to do more to ensure that they take good care of their health. NTWU has been working closely with our partners to promote healthy living amongst our public transport workers.
“Since 2015, we embarked on the “Healthier Workers, Happier Workers” project with the Ministry of Health, HPB and public transport operators to provide workers with regular health screening and health talks.
“We have also been promoting healthy eating habits through our NTWU canteens. HPB’s endorsement will help workers and even the public better identify the healthier meal options and make informed food choices,” said NTWU Executive Secretary Melvin Yong during the opening of NTWU’s newest canteen at the Ulu Pandan Bus Depot on 9 October 2018.
Healthy Eating
Highly nutritious and rich in fibre, brown rice meals will be chief among the healthier options made available to workers in NTWU’s canteens.
Following its earlier success, the union will also be relaunching its Brown Rice Campaign with discounted prices off brown rice meals.
In support of the initiative, SBS Transit (SBST) has sponsored $100,000 so NTWU can incentivise SBST’s 10,500 staff to opt for healthier brown rice meals. Staff will be given a reward card where stamps can be accumulated with each brown rice meal they buy. Every five stamps collected will allow them to receive a $2.50 meal voucher.
These food vouchers will also be distributed to SBST staff who attend the monthly Health Coaching sessions organised by SBST and HPB.
“Encouraging our people to live and eat healthily is a commitment. Bus Captains and bus support staff spend hours on the job and we need to provide a conducive environment for them to practise healthy living so that they can progressively form better life-long habits to a healthier way of living.
“Introducing health screening and coaching, to promoting active lifestyles by equipping our premises with free gyms, we are now looking into their diets to incentivise healthy eating. We believe that a healthy worker makes for a more productive workforce. It is a win-win situation for all of us!" said SBS Transit CEO Gan Juay Kiat.
