SINGAPORE - The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), through its U Care Centre, hopes to be able to provide 12,000 low wage Malay/Muslim workers with guidance on work-related issues this year, up from 11,000 last year.

This was announced at a fast breaking session organised by the centre for 50 of its members at Al-Ansar Mosque in Bedok on Thursday night (June 9).

Since the beginning of the year, the centre has managed to offer training in skills and knowledge of basic employment rights to 7,500 Malay/Muslim workers by partnering with organisations such as Jamiyah to hold workshops.

"We leverage on these organisations' outreach programmes to reach out to workers," said NTUC assistant secretary general Zainal Sapari.

He said the centre, which is dedicated to promoting the welfare of low-wage workers in Singapore, also worked with mosques to inform their congregants about its programmes.

"Our aim with all these initiatives is to inform and educate more workers in the Malay-Muslim community on the various platforms and opportunities available to improve lives for their families and them," said Mr Zainal, who is also a Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris - Punggol GRC.

Madam Rohana Atan Chik, 50, had been out of work for 10 years because of health problems when she found out about the U Care Centre through the Al-Ansar Mosque.

The centre arranged for her to attend a job fair, where she had several job interviews.

Madam Rohana now works part-time as a food stall assistant.

"I'm very grateful for the chance to work again," she said, adding that consultants from the U Care Centre regularly calls her to check on her and encourage her.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, who was at last night's event, said: "This is a wonderful effort by NTUC to widen its reach and help more Malay/Muslim families to get training and skills sets that they need."