SINGAPORE - The labour movement (Nov 29) announced today that it disbursed $9.1 million to low-income union members and their families this year (2015).

This is an increase from the $8.75 million it disbursed last year (2014), through various assistance programmes under the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)'s U Care Fund.

The announcements were made at the NTUC Family Fair - Back to School edition, held at the NTUC Centre today.

According to Ms Phyllis Lim, deputy director of NTUC's Care and Share department, the rise may be due to factors such as a slight increase in members who received U Stretch vouchers, which support low-income families. 24,922 members received the vouchers this year, up from 24,420 members last year.

This follows a review of the qualifying criteria this year for members, from a monthly gross household income of $2,800 to $3,000.

The value of its Family Recreation & Fun Carnival packages increased from $100 to $150 per family package as well, added Ms Lim.

At the event, NTUC assistant secretary-general Mr Zainal Sapari presented a cheque donation of $1 million from the U Care Fund to the Eldercare Trust.

He said that the NTUC U Care Centre, which provides guidance on work-related issues to low-wage workers, also helped more people this year. It assisted 7,000 workers, up from 5,500 last year.

The labour movement ramped up its outreach efforts to part-time working students and adults, and the Malay-Muslim community this year as well.

This is done through customised seminars and collaborations with Enhanced Mosque Clusters and Mendaki SENSE, to reach out the community after noticing that it has been under-represented during NTUC's employment seminars, said Mr Zainal.

NTUC has more than 880,000 members.