NTUC widens income criteria for two voucher programmes to benefit 11,000 more

SINGAPORE — The labour movement has revised upwards the income criteria for two of its voucher programmes, which will benefit about 11,000 more from low-income families.

The income criteria for the U Stretch and Back to School voucher programmes will be upped S$200 to S$3,000 in gross household income, or S$750 per capita income, for members with dependents in the same household. For those without dependants staying in the same household, the income ceiling for the U Stretch voucher programme has been increased from S$1,400 to S$1,450 in gross personal income. Before the income ceiling revisions, there were about 50,000 beneficiaries under the two programmes.

U Stretch gives discount vouchers on daily basic necessities, while Back to School are subsidies to defray school expenses for children of low-income union members. Application for these programmes open on June 15.

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Assistant Secretary-General Zainal Sapari, who is also Director of its Care and Share Department, said: “It is important that the assistance provided by the Labour Movement towards its low-income members remain relevant and that we are able to reach out to as many of them as possible.”

At the launch of its five Family Recreation & Fun Carnivals today (May 31), the NTUC also said it is targetting to raise S$10.5 million for its U Care Fund, which is used to provide relief for low-income union members.

Today, about 9,000 union members and their families participated in the first such carnival, which was launched by labour chief Chan Chun Sing.