When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Gets Going
With More To Draw From Reserves, Prudence Is Byword
Even the world’s busiest transhipment hub is cautious about the current economic outlook and expects a significantly weaker business environment in 2009. In anticipation of tougher times ahead, PSA Singapore Terminals has been proactive and swift in its response.

Training Is Best Weapon
The recession will hurt some workers harder than the rest - those who are older or have no formal education or skills training in the Institute of Technical Education and Polytechnic or whose skills have become irrelevant. Worse if they are from the lower-income group. The best way forward for these workers is training and acquisition of new and relevant skills. Training is the best weapon in the workers’ armoury to fight recession.

$8M For Needy Families
The Labour Movement will be giving out care and share vouchers totalling $8 million to eligible members. The amount is divided into $5 million for Back-to-School vouchers and $3 million for Public Transport and Utility vouchers.

Raincoats Out Thunderstorm Coming
LM Confident Of Keeping Most Workers Dry
It was raining as 216 unionists gathered for the NTUC-Industrial Workers’ Education and Training Fund Workshop on 24 October 2008. It was natural then that NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say used a wet weather analogy to explain the current economic situation to the unionists from the 10 industrial unions.

Tagged For Better Image And Higher-Paying Jobs
In the not too distant future, it will not be difficult to identify a security officer who has undergone the requisite screening and training.

1 Card Is Enough
NTUC Plus is now Uplus. It is the preferred NTUC membership card that comes with VISA payment function and an update of the NTUC Plus Card.

Young Minds Get Study Help
As part of an ongoing yearly tradition, 997 children and youths benefited from the National Trades Union Congress’s annual General Branch Scholarship Awards and Education Grants.

FairPrice Housebrand Extends 5% Discount
NTUC Fairprice has extended its 5 per cent discount on 500 essential housebrand items till end March 2009.

Spend Less For More
The Taxi Operators’ Associations and National Transport Workers’ Union Membership Recruitment Roadshow was organised with the current economic climate in mind.

Old Fashion Lessons
Growing Stronger From Crisis
There are three simple lessons that we can glean from the global financial turmoil brought on by the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

Cheaper Rides
Commuters will pay less when they ride in a Comfort or a CityCab taxi from 12 November 2008.

Strengthening For Greater Social Impact
Almost daily now, we hear of yet another financial institution in trouble. The collapse of American insurer American International Group, Inc (AIG) and the high-profile problems that it created for local affiliate American International Assurance (AIA) have rocked Singaporeans’ faith in the very businesses that are supposed to be the safest.

Strength Comes From Lessons Learnt
Unless you have been a Robinson Crusoe marooned on an island these past weeks, a looming recession is staring the world in the face, Singapore included. When that happens, it will be sooner rather than later and nobody will be spared.

PM: Save, Work, Earn - Not Spend, Relax, Enjoy
With More To Draw From Reserves, Prudence Is Byword
After two days of debates, Parliament unanimously passed on 21 October 2008 the Constitution of Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill. It effectively revises the framework by which the Government is allowed to draw from investment returns on Singapore’s reserves for spending each year.

Women Must Help Bring Home the bread
Now more than ever, women should go to work and supplement the family income. And, whether the family has one or more incomes, women will do well to spend wisely. This is not to say women spend frivolously. Rather, they are usually the ones who decide how family money is spent, and they can make the difference during this economic downturn.

Unionised Workers Boast Of ‘Unfair Advantage’
It is in such challenging times that unions can value-add to union membership. The passion and commitment that the Labour Movement shows in supporting workers as they fight against the global financial crisis will serve as strong testimony that union membership makes a difference to their lives.

Estate Agents See Benefits Of NTUC Tie-Up
Strategic partnerships that bind the Labour Movement and professional bodies lay out an expanding buffet of treats on the spread for members. The Institute of Estate Agents is one such Associate Programme partner that was roped in with the National Trades Union Congress in 2007.

Many Names For One Crucial Mission
For many of us who are born and bred in Singapore, "NTUC" is a household name.
We understand when people use “NTUC” in many different ways:
"My hubby rushed to NTUC to pick up the baby’s milk powder."

Safe Deposits
In a statement issued by NTUC Thirft & Loan Chief Executive Officer Daniel Tseng on 17 October 2008, its Board of Directors gave the assurance that the Labour Movement Social Enterprise is in a strong position to fulfill its obligations to its members.

NTUC Social Enterprises To Do More In Economic Downturn
NTUC Social Enterprises are in for a tougher time over the next two years, but it is during such tough times that more social capital is built, and more good can be done for the working people of Singapore.

UWEEI Stands By $50,000 Just In Case
With the slowdown of the economy, the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries will be doing more for members.

LM All Geared Up To Fight Recession
Big trouble had been brewing for some time. All the bad omens were there and it came as no surprise when all hell broke loose. What started as sub-prime mortgage troubles in the United States quickly escalated into a mammoth financial crisis that in no time swamped world economies.

We Have What It Takes
STF Industrial Relations Forum
From America to Asia, stock markets have taken a pounding. Governments have been busy bailing out troubled financial institutions. And the worst is yet to come, warned the National Trades Union Congress Secretary-General Lim Swee Say.

Fair Or Stormy, SMOU Sails On
As an island state and a bustling entrepot, it would not be illogical to say that the shipping industry is the lifeblood of the Singapore economy. And it is a multi-billion dollar mega-industry that links all corners of the world.

Good Times, Bad Times, They Don’t Last A Lifetime
MoneySENSE Financial Education Programme
There could not be a more appropriate time, right smack in the midst of global financial markets going berserk and spreading like wildfire. The time when people seriously wonder how safe their money is and whether they have enough.

Ride The Rough, Prepare For Recovery
UNITE 2008
Now’s the time to rally workers to ride the rough and prepare to surge ahead when the calm comes. UNITE 2008 was an evening which NTUC Leadership Development Department organised at DXO on 10 October to show appreciation to some 500 deserving union leaders as well as bond and have fellowship.

SG Lim: Tie Your Shoelaces, Hold Hands and Run
Labour Movement Charity Dinner
Instead of allowing recession to run us down, we should run ahead of it. The task may be an uphill one but if we "hold our hands together", we can do it.

New Driver For Employment
NTUC Has New Assistant Secretary-General
Mr Ong Ye Kung will be seconded to the Labour Movement as NTUC Assistant Secretary-General on 1 December 2008. He will oversee the NTUC’s employment and employability programmes. This would be an extension of what he has been doing as Chief Executive of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency in the past three years.

Take Up Childcare Jobs
Employment Enhancement Department
Be a childcare teacher and earn between $1,500 and $2,400 a month. And it’s alright if you don’t have the experience, as you’ll be put through a training programme to prepare you for the job. With such a lucrative offer, it was no wonder that 35 women signed up on the spot for the Trainee Teacher Programme.

Come And Get It! 10,000 Jobs Up For Grabs
At Marina Bay IR
It is going to be raining jobs at the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort that is fast taking shape. The National Trades Union Congress’ e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency are partnering Marina Bay Sands Private Limited to employ 10,000 staff when the IR is up and running with priority given to locals.

Sugar, Rice And Everything Nice
Gift From The Heart
Four unions presented 2,500 low-wage NTUC Members with $150,000 worth of daily essentials on 11 October 2008.

K’FEU: Keeping Ahead In Boom Times
Strong Worker - Management Ties Boost Productivity
Keppel Offshore and Marine Limited, the parent company of Keppel FELS Limited, is often able to deliver ahead of schedule because of the high productivity of its workers. It makes mainly jackup rigs for deepwater drilling.

Let’s Play Mahjong!
To the uninitiated, the click-clacking of mahjong tiles is a noisy game. Some liken it to "swimming without water". But many are beginning to see this game in a different light as recent studies in HongKong point to its helping to improve the memory, judgment and reasoning of people with mild to moderate dementia.

Brisk Walk To Better Ageing
In the second of five Active Ageing roadshows, the Council for Third Age and Central Singapore Community Development Council organised a brisk walk around Fort Canning Park on Sunday, 12 October 2008.

Youth Leader Sharon Lim Shao Ping
Walking On Sunshine
Liquid sunshine anyone?
Right from the start, Sharon Lim grabs you with her ability to infuse positivity into every individual she meets. She emits an exceptionally good vibe that makes you smile, even if you are having a terrible day and are experiencing the other end of the rainbow.

Reach For The Stars
YCIS Forum Series 2008
According to Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, there are many opportunities that young Singaporeans can create for themselves.

Spruce Up For Seafarers’ ‘Home’
Seafarers on transit in Singapore now have better creature comforts to help them recharge before taking to the high seas again. Costing the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore $5 million, the makeover given to the Singapore Mariners Club Apartments and the Maritime House at 120 Cantonment Road offers affordable and comfortable accommodation to seafarers of all nationalities while in the Singapore port. It is a one-stop service centre to meet seafarers’ needs.

NTUC Membership Is About Engaging U
We are well into the Labour Movement 2011 journey. The vision is an all-inclusive, all working people - of every collar, age group and nationality - to work, live and play together. While industrial relations, jobs and employability remain important components, LM2011 embraces the employees’ total lifestyle and lifecycle needs. This enables the Labour Movement to continue to be relevant for many years to come.

Fun At OCC
Orchid Country Club has lined up a series activities for union members and their families.

Driving On ‘3R’ Fuel
New Exco In The Thick Of Things
The dust has not settled following the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Staff Union’s Ordinary Delegates’ Conference but the new Executive Committee for the term of 2008-2012 has already set its sight on increasing its membership.

Getting To Know Your Corporate’s Social Responsibility
Ask any company the meaning of Corporate Social Responsibility and there’s only a 40 per cent chance of them replying, “paying back to society”. This response is twice as likely to come from large enterprises than Small and Medium Enterprises. And foreign-owned companies are more likely to be aware of CSR than local-owned companies, partly because of the actions of their head offices.

A Decided Difference
Causeway Crunch Eases
Those who use the Causeway once in a while may not have noticed any difference. But those who ply the Singapore-Johor Baru route daily are experiencing a smoother flow of traffic, even during peak hours.

Work, Not Wait For Rebound
When Lehman Brothers, the 158-year-old investment bank in US, collapsed, followed by massive upheavals in Wall Street in mid-September, many wondered how this could impact the Singapore economy.

Quality Teaching Is Child Play
Madam Jade Fong, 38, and her husband dashed off from work on Friday, 19 September 2008, for an unconventional family date at the NTUC Childcare Centre at Haig Road.

Learn For Life, Advance With Skills
As part of the Continuing Education and Training Masterplan to build a first class CET system, the annual CET institutional capacity will be ramped up from the current 50,000 to 250,000 training places in the next 5 years.

Do Not Forsake Our ‘Vulnerable’ Workers
The plight of contract and casual workers came under scrutiny at a Workshop on Tripartite Advisory on Responsible Outsourcing organised by NTUC’s Unit for Contract and Casual Workers and members of the International Metal Workers’ Federation - Singapore Council on 7 October 2008.

Tripartism Must Get Stronger Everyday
"That’s the reason why we are successful. We are always consistently pro-business and pro-workers. As a result, the level of trust among the tripartite partners built up over the years is not 99 per cent but 100 per cent... And this level of trust can only get stronger. Once it gets weaker, it will be the point of no return."

Yokogawa Makes Costs A Plus Factor
In its quest to be the global number one manufacturer and supplier of distributed control systems for the industrial automation industry by the year 2010, Yokogawa Electric Asia Private Limited has got a few tricks up its sleeves.

Moving SBS Transit Style - Safety Up, Costs Down
Ever wondered what it takes to keep a bus company running day in and day out, rain or shine, to keep Singapore moving?

The Amirul Case
Recently, a Strait Times article implies that the NTUC income Insurance Co-operative Ltd has been unreasonable by refusing to renew a motor insurance of one of its customers.

The Social Enterprise has acted correctly based on the circumstances of the case. Here are the facts.

Migrant Workers: Finding The Balance
Stories about migrant workers in Singapore frequently make the headlines. This is small wonder with migrant workers making up almost one out of every three workers in the workforce and one out of every four residents in our population.

Knowing All Things International
APEC For All Stakeholders
Our union leaders need to have a better grasp of international issues. This will be useful when Singapore host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings and the Asia Pacific Labour Network next year. APLN is the parallel trade union summit to the APEC meetings.

Add Green To Our Collar
Have you noticed that the weather in Singapore over the past few months seems different from the years past?

World Day For Decent Work
The international trade union movement will be celebrating the first "World Day for Decent Work" on 7 October 2008. On this day, unions all over the world will organise activities around three themes: "Rights at Work", "Solidarity" and "Ending Poverty and Inequality", to bring the world’s attention to focus on the importance of decent work.

Getting Sand-Sational! With The Family
It is a boon when working people can enjoy the best of both worlds: a good family life and a good work life. It was clear some 3,000 of the Labour Movement’s U Family members and their families enjoyed this balance as they let their hair down at Sentosa’s Palawan Beach on 5 October 2008. They were participants of the first activity in the U Family @ Play series, the "Simply Sand-Sational!" event.

Paddock Talk
F1 Singapore Grand Prix Offers Lessons For Labour Movement
It ain’t over till you’ve passed the chequered flag. What thrills and spills there were as 20 drivers battled it out for podium places at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, the first night race in the world, on 28 September 2008.

Trauma Drama
F1 Singapore Grand Prix
High speed crashes add to the drama and excitement of the Formula One races. But what is excitement for the spectator can be dread for the medical personnel - because of the high speeds, injuries can be massive. No one knows this better than Mohamad Noor Adam, 48, who was on duty at the inaugural F1 Singapore Grand Prix, held from 26 to 28 September 2008.

Manning The Hot Seat
F1 Singapore Grand Prix
Sister Tan Siew Choo has one of the hottest seats at the F1 Singapore Grand Prix. She mans the water point at the garage, near the pit lanes, where the F1 cars are stored. But the Nurse Coordinator of the F1 Singapore GP Medical Team has no time to be starry-eyed.

Always There For
Even as the world faces economic uncertainty and inflation, the Singapore Labour Foundation remains firmly committed to and "continues to emphasise our strategic mission to further the development of the Labour Movement and in doing so improve the lives of our union members."

Innovative Steps Big And Small Add Up To 1M
Unions played a pivotal role during turbulent times in the 60s and early 70s. In those days, labour-management relations were rocky. Workers turned to unions for better welfare and work conditions.

Tourism Gets $1.5M Boost
The tourism industry has been given a booster shot with $1.5 million pumped into a new Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification programme. The programme called Advance with Skills, aims to help 500 workers upgrade in the next three years.

Lifestyle Refreshed ‘Smaller in Size, Larger Than Life’
Reborn with a refreshing feel, new look and compact size. That’s how two of NTUC Media Co-operative Limited’s titles - “Lifestyle” magazine in English and Mandarin - will hit subscribers’ homes from November.

Union Square: Home Of Golfers
MyGolfKaki Members now have another place to test their putting skills. With the Union Square designated as the Home of Golfers, they can putt in cool comfort while sipping a cool drink and staying out of the sun at the same time.

Birds Of A Feather
30 children from NTUC Childcare were all aflutter in the nocturnal stillness to make out the shape and colour of the feathered kind. They were accompanied by 30 members of Young Staff Of NTUC under the Young NTUC’s Kidz Quest initiative.