In efforts to serve more Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs), the U Associate programme is expected to welcome 3,000 new members from the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) into the Labour Movement within the year.
NTUC Competency Director (Membership) Vivek Kumar and IES Honorary Secretary Dr Boh Jaw Woei signed the agreement on 19 February 2013.
Special Guest NTUC Director, Legal Services Department; and Professionals, Managers and Executives Unit (PMEU) Patrick Tay, IES President Professor Chou Siaw Kiang, along with union leaders from the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU), Metal Industries Workers’ Union (MIWU), United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries (UWEEI) and IES members witnessed the signing of the Partnership Agreement.
Mr Tay said: “As more PMEs join the workforce, the U Associate membership programme is a key NTUC initiative to reach out to this growing group through associations and alumnus and bring them the various advantages of joining the Labour Movement.”
Under this partnership, all qualifying IES and Registry members will be offered NTUC Associate Programme membership, where they will be able to enjoy professional development subsidies with the Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP), workplace advisory services and other perks.
The U Associate partnership will also allow IES members to access programmes offered by the Professional Chapters of BATU, MIWU and UWEEI, and they can soon participate in activities organised by the UWEEI-EPC (Engineering Professional Community), BATU-CBP (Community for Building Professionals) and MIWU’s Professional Chapter for Precision and Process Engineering) at subsidised rates.
“Our partnership with NTUC will add value to our membership with an enhanced range of benefits focusing on recreation, complementing our existing benefits which are centred around enhancing professional skills,” said Professor Chou.
IES member Teddy Low sees the partnership as a good move in terms of the social benefits that IES members will get as well as the extended network that NTUC offers. “I think the legal services offered by NTUC could be helpful,” he added.
Another IES member Alagon looks forward to the professional development opportunities that are offered through the U Associate membership, such as seminars and professional training.
