SINGLE mothers, who are likely to face a tough time in the current downturn, are the focus of a new project by the labour movement launched yesterday to mark International Women's Day.

Among other things, they will get help finding a job, and also be able to join support groups that arrange activities for them and their children in these trying times.

The project, called WeCare for U - U forms the logo of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and is meant to represent every worker - was launched by labour chief Lim Swee Say.

It aims to reach out to divorcees, widows and other single mothers who not only have a tougher time juggling work and family, but find it hard to get help, said Madam Suseela Singaram, a union leader and key driver of the project.

'As long as you are a single mum with children, we want to assist you,' said the deputy general secretary of the Union of Power and Gas Employees.

Apart from helping those out of work to find jobs, NTUC's Women's Development Secretariat (WDS) will encourage those who cannot go out to work to make use of other skills, like baking or sewing, to help themselves generate an income.

'The lack of a steady source of income is one of the greatest difficulties experienced by single mothers who face an uphill task in securing maintenance or whose maintenance payments are not sufficient to support them and their children,' said WDS director Halimah Yacob.

Comprehensive figures on the number of single mothers here are not available, but estimates run into the thousands.

Last year alone, there were 7,220 divorces and 1,700 applicants - mostly women - for enforcement of maintenance orders from divorced spouses.

The WDS is also working with the Law Society of Singapore to produce a comprehensive guidebook so that single mothers know how and where to find legal help.

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