THE National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will do more to help Singaporeans cope with the recession through the activities and services of its cooperatives, said its secretary-general Lim Swee Say on Wednesday.
He pledged that they will aim to keep fees and prices low while improving quality and making the services more accessible to Singaporeans.
Citing NTUC First Campus, the new name for NTUC Childcare, he said it will strive to keep its fees below the national median of $630 a month.
At the same time, it will raise the quality of its teachers and open more centres across the island.
'This philosophy of upgrading quality, affordability and accessibility will cut across all NTUC cooperatives' said Mr Lim, speaking to reporters at the end of a First Campus event.
'All cooperatives today are being challenged to move in this direction.'
On Tuesday, the NTUC FairPrice supermarket chain said it has extended its 5-per-cent discount scheme on 500 selected housebrands, initially due to end in March, until the end of the year.
It will also scour the world for 100 more items to expand its lowest- priced range of products.
More needy families are also to receive a bigger sum from its Care and Share fund, which gives them such aid as transport and utility vouchers.
The fund is increasing its annual budget to at least $20 million this year, compared to $13.1 million last year and $7 million in 2007.
'At the end of the day, we hope we can minimise the impact of the downturn not just on workers but their families and especially on their children' said Mr Lim.
He also reiterated NTUC's commitment to continue to save jobs and help Singaporeans get jobs in the worsening downturn.
'For workers who are prepared to look beyond the same job and the same pay, they should be able to get enough help and employment opportunities,' he said.
Asked if NTUC was looking for anything special in next week's Budget, Mr Lim said he hopes the Government will address non-wage costs to help companies reduce costs and save jobs.
But at the same time, he also hopes the Budget will introduce measures to encourage companies to create new jobs.
