Union raises over S$100,000 for benefit of low—wage members

SINGAPORE: Over S$100,000 was raised by the Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers (AUPDRW) in a fundraising project to benefit 700 of its low—wage members.

A large part of the S$106,300 raised will be channelled to education bursaries, while the rest will be split between welfare schems and the organising of recreational events for members and their families.

An appreciation session, called "Kopi from the Heart", was held for the fundraising project’s donors at Downtown East on Wednesday afternoon.

Guests to the event enjoyed traditional coffee and toast sets. There were a total of 33 donors that contributed to the union’s fundraising.

Those present included members of the Labour Movement family, fellow unions and social enterprises, and organisations such as the National Environment Agency and the Singapore Taxi Academy.

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong also donated an undisclosed sum to the project.

"The way to raise their income will be to teach them more skills so that they can do more things and earn a bit more. But that’s difficult because they are old. Therefore, the key for their family is their children’s education," Mr Goh said.

He further commended the union’s approach in trying to raise the salary of the workers.

"Instead of having a minimum wage, which I think is not workable in Singapore, they are targeting sectors ... and see how they can, through practical means, raise the productivity and their pay," Mr Goh said.

— CNA/wm