TO MAKE ends meet and provide for his 11 children, a restaurant supervisor, who only wanted to be known as Mr Shahrul, 47, stretches his $1,500 monthly income as much as he can.

He and his wife Asmah Aboobaker, 43, manage everyday with simple meals, rare outings and saving on electricity, telephone and water bills.

Mr Shahrul and Madam Asmah have never even taken their children, aged between 5 and 20, overseas for a family vacation.

'We never got our passports made and I've not even taken my kids to Johor,' said Mr Shahrul.

So Mr Shahrul was thrilled when he was informed that 10 of his children, who are currently attending school, will receive the Labour Movement's Back to School vouchers.

They are just 10 of some 40,000 recipients of the vouchers which can be used to stock up on school neccessities such as assessment books and stationery at the Labour Movement's Back to School Fair located at three venues this weekend.

The beneficiaries are also able to enjoy services like eye check ups and hair cuts for free while there.

Vendors at the fair include Bata Singapore, Popular Bookstore and Spectacle Hut, among others and some offer discounts of up to 80 per cent for those with vouchers. Selected discounts at the fairs are offered to the general public as well.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.