NTUC is not resting on their laurels. They have been actively collaborating with both the public and private sector to provide relevant products and services at a lower cost. All these to reduce your cost of living and improve your lives.
I truly believe that NTUC’s efforts are underrated and not fully appreciated by most Singaporeans.
Don’t believe me? I am willing to bet that you have not heard of ALL 4 initiatives that I have written below. Read on and find out what you have been missing!
Case Study 1: Kampung Admiralty
This is by far my favourite initiative, because it ties in with what this blog is all about, semi-retirement, or retirement.
A partnership with Housing Development Board (HDB) that involves many of NTUC’s Social Enterprises, Kampung Admiralty is Singapore’s first retirement community. It is conveniently located next to the Admiralty MRT station, and houses three blocks of integrated living spaces.
There are about 100 studio apartments in two blocks and all the units have all been snapped up. The third, a six-storey block, houses amenities like a medical centre, a hawker (run by NTUC Foodfare) and a supermarket (NTUC Fairprice). This is definitely a place the Mrs and I would find very convenient when we grow older.
Furthermore, there is also an Active Ageing Hub (run by NTUC Health) and even a child care centre My First Skool (run by NTUC First Campus). The one-stop hub integrates active ageing and care services for elderly residents, such as day care and assisted living services. And with My First Skool next to it, it also encourages intergenerational bonding.
This retirement village is already great, but how to make it even better?
Subsidised or free yoga lessons in the fully sheltered community plaza on the ground level? Or how about an EnergyOne gym for “more active” elderly which I hope to become one day?
I will definitely be checking Kampung Admiralty out the next time I venture to the North of Singapore.
Case Study 2: Grab/NTUC FairPrice Partnership
Unlike the previous initiative, this is something that benefits millennials like me immediately.
Earlier this year, NTUC FairPrice, in partnership with Grab, launched the SCORE Subscription Programme to help reduce our groceries and transport costs. The first year’s membership fee is $29.99 while from the second year, the annual membership fee will be $49.99.
If you are a frequent Grab commuter, the savings will more than make up the membership fee.
Let’s say you take Grab 4 times a week on average and each ride costs about $15. Under the Score Subscription Programme, you will be entitled 20% off subsequent rides after the first 4 rides. This means that in a month, you would have saved $3 x 12 = $36 which is already more than the first year’s membership fee!
And you can make the third Monday of every month the errand day since a member will be able to get 50% off all Grab rides on that day. NTUC FairPrice also offers benefits like free online delivery once a month (worth $7 each delivery) and access to the Warehouse Club located in Joo Koon (worth $15 per year).
Both NTUC FairPrice and Grab expect to rope in more partners to provide other benefits and services to members from the second year onwards.
Case Study 3: NTUC Good Start Bundle
I did not know about this initiative until very recently. Apparently, various NTUC Social Enterprises have come together to partner with People’s Association (PA) to provide the Good Start Bundle to parents of Singapore citizen babies born in 2016 to 2019.
In conjunction with the Embracing PArenthood Movement initiated by PA, events to celebrate parenthood are and will be held across all constituencies in Singapore.
You can email pa_familylife@pa.gov.sg to find out more about the dates of these events in your constituency.
Because if you attend an event, not only do you receive the FairPrice Fairmily Kit (worth up to $100, which includes milk powder for babies above six months old, grocery essentials and an exclusive FairPrice online deal), you also receive a complimentary one-year health insurance coverage for your newborn courtesy of NTUC Income. This is easily worth up to $200 depending on the Shield Plan you opt for your child. There are also other perks to signing up with the Good Start Bundle here.
All these is provided free at no charges and if you are a parent with a toddler, you just need to sign up here.
Case Study 4: Migrant Workers’ Centre x POSB
I have a soft spot for migrant workers working in Singapore. Most of them have left their homes to work here to better provide for their families back home and they are working in important industries like cleaning and construction.
If you are waiting for your keys to your BTO and hope for a shorter wait, you are depending on these migrant workers.
So I am glad that the Migrant Workers’ Centre (an NTUC and SNEF bipartite initiative) and POSB have come up with an initiative to offer exclusive benefits and savings to migrant workers.
Under the MWC-POSB Membership programme, migrant workers can make use of the online banking services available via the POSB jolly App, which includes a newly-enhanced remittance capability. This allows migrant workers to easily remit money back to their home countries in safely and conveniently.
Migrant workers who are members will also be able to enjoy attractive StarHub Mobile prepaid offers and stay connected with family and friends easily and affordably. These offers include top-up, data and talk time bonuses as well as exclusive product and service bundles.
This initiative is definitely an important component of our ongoing efforts to improve the work and living conditions of our migrant workers in Singapore.
Do you know of any other integrated services that NTUC provides?
Thanks for reading.
This article is written in partnership with the Labour Movement. I only believe in promoting products and services that I would use myself, and when I believe they are of value to my readers too. The views in this article are strictly mine.
