For the past 16 years, 80-year-old Low Kum Chuen has been working to keep Ang Mo Kio Garden West clean, but yesterday he had an appointment to keep at the Istana.
He was among nearly 300 environmental service workers who were lauded at the inaugural Environmental Services Star Awards, launched as part of the annual Environmental Services Workforce Day, which recognises and celebrates companies and employees in the industry.
The new award recognises the top employees in the environmental services industry across its three sectors: cleaning services, waste management and pest management.
President Halimah Yacob, who presented the awards, praised the workers as unsung heroes who toil quietly behind the scenes to contribute to Singapore's growth and cleanliness.
Thanking environmental service workers, she said: "You work quietly behind the scenes, but the impact you make on our environment, society and our lives is substantial."
Madam Halimah also launched the #ServingSG initiative, which comprises events to recognise the contributions of workers, such as cleaners, who provide public services to Singapore.
She added that yesterday's event is the first under the #ServingSG initiative.
"Even a small gesture, such as taking the time to smile or say thank you, can make a difference," she told the audience, which was made up of environmental service staff and company representatives from the cleaning, waste management and pest management sectors.
The Environmental Services Star Awards celebrate front-line, supervisory and backend staff.
In addition to the 27 individuals who received the Environmental Services Star Awards, another 268 individuals from 45 companies received congratulatory certificates.
Mr Low, who is with Veolia ES Singapore Industrial, got an Environmental Services Star Award.
Other recipients included Ms Regina Cheah, a senior executive at SembWaste, and Mr Raship Othman, a technical director at Vcare Pest Management.
Mr Low said he has no plans to retire any time soon, adding that he continues to take skills upgrading courses.
For example, he took a public hygiene maintenance course in August.
The former construction worker, who is single, said: "I enjoy my job. I enjoy talking to the park regulars and my colleagues."
Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said workers will need to upgrade their skills as demand for services in the industry grow.
"We need to get the industry to improve productivity, promote growth, as well as become more sustainable in adopting technology, automation and digitalisation," she added.
Going the extra mile to keep Singapore clean and green
In total, 27 individuals received the Environmental Services Star Award, which recognises the top employees across the three sectors in the industry: cleaning services, waste management and pest management.
Three of the recipients were highlighted by President Halimah Yacob for going the extra mile to keep Singapore clean and green:
MR LOW KUM CHUEN
The 80-year-old is a cleaner with Veolia ES Singapore Industrial.
He is a regular feature at Ang Mo Kio Garden West, where he has worked for the past 16 years.
Mr Low was recognised for proactively helping his new colleagues adjust to their work quickly by zoning the area in terms of different levels of priorities.
MS REGINA CHEAH
The 29-year-old is a senior executive at SembWaste and an advocate for sustainability practices.
In her four years of service, Ms Cheah has conducted talks at schools and companies to raise awareness of recycling and proper waste management.
MR RASHIP OTHMAN
The 60-year-old is the technical director at Vcare Pest Management.
Mr Raship is a veteran of the industry, having started out as a pest control worker in 1979. Over the years, he has helped train many pest management workers.
Always one to improve, he actively learns how to use pest management equipment as well as software systems.
