We pay fairly, competitively: NTUC

May 12, 2012

Straits Times Forum
May 12, 2012

WE THANK Mr Leong Sze Hian for his concerns on the wages of staff in the NTUC Social Enterprises (‘NTUC should set the example by paying its staff more’; Tuesday).

As part of the labour movement, NTUC Social Enterprises pay fair and competitive wages to staff.

With bonuses and allowances, the average monthly gross wage of a full-time retail assistant/cashier in FairPrice exceeds $1,000 to reach as high as $1,750. At Unity, it also exceeds $1,000 to reach as high as $1,700 for full-time pharmacy assistants.

We also provide staff and welfare benefits. These include staff discounts on purchases at our stores, as well as comprehensive medical and dental benefits.

Unity extends some of these benefits to the spouses and children of staff; FairPrice offers study grants to the children of staff.

During tough times like the period of global inflation in 2008, FairPrice distributed $1.5 million worth of FairPrice vouchers to help staff cope with the rapid rise in cost of living.

NTUC Social Enterprises value every worker and strongly believe in training and enhancing our productivity. This is the best way for us to secure better wages for our staff while helping our customers stretch their dollar.

Rebecca Teo (Ms)

Director, Human Resources

NTUC FairPrice Co-operative

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.