NTUC: Raising funds to help needy members?

September 17, 2013

TR Emeritus

September 17th, 2013

I refer to the article “Efforts ramped up to get more to give” (Straits Times, Sep 16).

It states that “”The more our citizens and residents believe that they can make a difference, that it is partially their responsibility to stand up and help others in their communities, the more we move our society towards a giving nation.””

$10.5 raised to help needy union members? 

In this connection, I would like to refer to the article “NTUC raises $10.5 million for poor union members” (Straits Times, Aug 31).

$1.5m for carnivals 

Of this $10.5 million, $1.5 million will be used to organize carnivals for these needy families.

Helping 40,000 families and 40,600 students

The balance $9 million will be used to help 40,000 families and 40,600 students.

$9 a month’s help?

Dividing the $9 million by 80,600 (40,000 families plus 40,600 students) gives an average amount of $111.66 a year or $9.31 a month.

Union dues $9? 

As I understand that the union membership fees are about $9.75 a month, does it mean that each needy union member’s needy family or student may on the average be just getting about the same amount back a month as help from NTUC?

Spend 14% on carnivals? 

Instead of spending $1.5 million or about 14.3 per cent of the $10.5 million raised on carnivals, why not utilise this sum in direct monetary assistance instead?

33% more money better?

In my view, an extra average amount of $37.50 a year ($1.5 million divided by 40,000 families), which is about 33.6 per cent more than the average assistance calculated above, may be more meaningful for needy families.

How many needy in Singapore? 

As there are 40,000 needy families who are union members, how many non-union needy families are there in total in Singapore?

Unions fight for better wages?

If the unions work harder to get better wages, perhaps there won’t be so many needy union members?

As there are 770,000 union members as of July 2013, does it mean that total union dues a year are about $90 million (770,000 times $117)?

If we include all the profits of the union movement’s 12 or so social enterprises, perhaps it could do more to help needy families.

Leong Sze Hian

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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.