The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is reopening applications for its fund meant to assist members affected by the Covid-19 pandemic by providing them with cash relief of up to $300. It is also expanding the eligibility criteria for beneficiaries of the fund.
The enhanced NTUC Care Fund (Covid-19) will use the remaining $17 million of the initial $25 million set aside for it, NTUC said yesterday.
The first exercise, which opened for applications from March 25 to Sept 30, supported about 30,000 union members with a total payout of about $8 million.
About 65,000 union members are expected to benefit from these one-off payouts ranging from $50 to $300.
Among the criteria revisions is an increase in the cap on applicants' gross monthly personal income (GPI). Those who have received retrenchment benefits of more than $6,500 are also now allowed to apply.
Those staying with dependants in the same household and whose monthly GPI is no more than $4,500, and members without dependants staying in the same household with a monthly GPI of up to $1,600, are now eligible to apply to the fund for assistance.
Individuals whose salary and employment have been affected because of Covid-19-related reasons can also apply. More details are on the NTUC website.
Applications for the enhanced assistance programme will open from Nov 23 to Feb 28.
Applicants who were successful and those who were not during the first round of applications can apply again for a payout, if their union membership is still valid. They will be notified through SMS.
Members who applied successfully in the first round will receive their payouts by early next month.
New members are required to have a minimum of one-month paid membership fees before a payout is made.
NTUC also announced that its annual Back to School Fair will take place virtually from Dec 7 to Jan 7. The month-long event features promotions and discounts on school-related items.
Lauding the two programmes, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said: "Together with job and employment support that we continue to offer members, I am certain we can all emerge stronger out of this crisis, towards the new normal."
