<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Retrenched workers at about 5,500 mark: NTUC
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Shuli Sudderuddin
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->The number of retrenched unionised workers has hit one of the highest levels in the last decade, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said yesterday.
The figure so far this year has reached about 5,500, said NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How.
In 1999, a total of 7,635 unionised workers lost their jobs.
Needy retrenched union workers will benefit from the labour movement's U Care Fund.
Some money will be put aside to help currently retrenched union workers who received little or no benefits.
The fund was launched this year to collectively raise money from the tripartite partners - government, employers and unions - in response to the economic downturn.
Given a target of $20 million in its kitty by the end of May, it crossed the $10 million mark yesterday, when a total of $990,000 was donated.
NTUC Foodfare, NTUC Healthcare, NTUC Learning Hub, NTUC Link, NTUC Thrift, NTUC Foodfare's union - the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union (FDAWU) - and the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF) donated the money.
In particular, this was NTUC Foodfare's single largest donation of $512,000 to the labour movement.
To mark the event, chief executive officers of the social enterprises, Mr Heng and union leaders from FDAWU spent 11/2 hours preparing and serving over 100 sets of Foodfare's signature $1.80 breakfast set meals to customers at Foodfare's outlet in Simei MRT station.
Mr Heng, who is also the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said that last year's fund raising efforts helped about 150,000 workers and this year, over 200,000 workers are expected to benefit.
He added: 'We are now past the halfway mark and we cannot slacken because much more remains to be done in order to look after the workers. 'So we have to go full steam ahead.'
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Shuli Sudderuddin
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->The number of retrenched unionised workers has hit one of the highest levels in the last decade, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said yesterday.
The figure so far this year has reached about 5,500, said NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How.
In 1999, a total of 7,635 unionised workers lost their jobs.
Needy retrenched union workers will benefit from the labour movement's U Care Fund.
Some money will be put aside to help currently retrenched union workers who received little or no benefits.
The fund was launched this year to collectively raise money from the tripartite partners - government, employers and unions - in response to the economic downturn.
Given a target of $20 million in its kitty by the end of May, it crossed the $10 million mark yesterday, when a total of $990,000 was donated.
NTUC Foodfare, NTUC Healthcare, NTUC Learning Hub, NTUC Link, NTUC Thrift, NTUC Foodfare's union - the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union (FDAWU) - and the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF) donated the money.
In particular, this was NTUC Foodfare's single largest donation of $512,000 to the labour movement.
To mark the event, chief executive officers of the social enterprises, Mr Heng and union leaders from FDAWU spent 11/2 hours preparing and serving over 100 sets of Foodfare's signature $1.80 breakfast set meals to customers at Foodfare's outlet in Simei MRT station.
Mr Heng, who is also the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said that last year's fund raising efforts helped about 150,000 workers and this year, over 200,000 workers are expected to benefit.
He added: 'We are now past the halfway mark and we cannot slacken because much more remains to be done in order to look after the workers. 'So we have to go full steam ahead.'
