Two more NTUC Social Enterprises join in to absorb 2% GST hike for six months
26 June 2007
Media Statement
Two more social enterprises under the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), NTUC Club and NTUC Healthcare, will join the labour movement? collective effort to cushion the impact of the impending GST hike on workers.
2. NTUC Club and NTUC Healthcare will absorb the two percentage point GST hike for a period of six months with effect from 1 July 2007, in order to help workers stretch their dollar.
3. Workers will enjoy GST savings of up to $1.6 million from NTUC Club, and $160,000 from NTUC Healthcare on Unity Healthcare? basket of 100 essential items.
4. In February 2007, four NTUC social enterprises - NTUC FairPrice, NTUC Foodfare, NTUC Childcare and NTUC LearningHub Private Limited - had announced that they would be absorbing the impending GST hike for a period of six months to one year. With the inclusion of NTUC Club and NTUC Healthcare, the labour movement? total GST-Care package will amount to an estimated $7.4 million. [Please refer to Annex A for details].
5. Besides absorbing the GST hike, NTUC Healthcare will also adopt the following measures with effect from 1 July 2007 to further assist workers:
a. Maintain the current medical consultation fees at all NTUC Medicare clinics for walk-in patients, low-wage workers, taxi operators?associations and corporate clients to ensure affordable healthcare.
b. Display prominently the indicative price lists of all services and procedures for dental, medical and traditional Chinese medicine clinics for transparency.
6. The six social enterprises will review their GST absorption measures at the end of the six-month period.
For media queries, please contact:
Julie Tai (Ms)
Principal Executive
Corporate Communications Department
National Trades Union Congress
DID 6213 8186
HP 9848 2483
Fax 6327 3749
About National Trades Union Congress
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions of workers in the industrial, service and public sectors representing about 480,000 workers in Singapore. It has 63 affiliated trade unions and six associations, as well as 12 social enterprises and three related organisations. NTUC? objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and workers remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of workers; and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement.
Annex A
GST-Care Package
|
NTUC Social Enterprise |
Period of 2% GST absorption |
Estimated savings for workers |
Remarks |
|
NTUC Club |
Six months |
$1.6 million |
On all club? facilities |
|
NTUC Healthcare |
Six months |
$160,000 |
On Unity Healthcare? basket of 100 essential items |
|
NTUC FairPrice |
Six months |
$5 million |
On FairPrice? basket of 400 Everyday Low Price items plus $1 million worth of FairPrice vouchers to help the needy |
|
NTUC Foodfare |
Six months |
$120,000 |
Food & beverage prices will remain unchanged with the 2% rental rebates provided to all tenants |
|
NTUC Childcare |
One year |
$60,000 |
On childcare? fee for children from low-income families |
|
NTUC LearningHub® |
One year |
$500,000 |
On course fees |
|
TOTAL |
|
$7.44 million |
|
The total NTUC GST-Care package amounts to an estimated $7.44 million.
