Amalgamated Union Of Public Employees

The Workmen’s Compensation Act has undergone a major revision and update.

Come 1 April 2008, the Workmen’s Compensation Act will be renamed “Work Injury Compensation Act” with amendments that are more balanced and providing a more comprehensive coverage for workers.

Currently the Act applies to all manual workers and non-manual workers earning $1,600 and below. The restriction is now removed and the Act will now apply to all employees except domestic workers, members of the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Affairs Uniformed Services (ie officers in the Police, Civil Defence, Prisons and Narcotics schemes of service). The terminology “workmen” has now been replaced by “employees”.

For newly covered employees, ie non-manual workers earning above $1,600, employers are given the flexibility to decide whether or not to buy insurance for them. However they remain liable to pay compensation. For existing employees, ie, manual workers and non-manual workers earning $1,600 and below, compulsory insurance continues to apply.

The minimum and maximum compensation levels for death and permanent incapacity have been increased. The multiplying factor for those aged below 40 has also been enhanced in recognition of their higher earning power. The multiplying factor affects the amount of compensation and is a scale based on the age of the worker.

The current sub-limits on employers’ liability for hospital charges and fees are removed eg X-ray examination of $1,500 per examination. Instead, employers’ liability for medical expenses will be capped up to a one year time cap or $25,000 per accident per employee, whichever is reached earlier.

The time frame for an employee to submit himself for medical examination after being notified by the Commissioner has been reduced from the current 6 months to 3 months.

An employee with multiple jobs will now be able to claim for the loss of his total earnings from different occupations with different employers, so long as the employer that he is claiming compensation from is aware of his other jobs. The current law allows him to claim compensation for his total earnings only if he is employed in the same occupation.

An employee is now given 28 days to decide whether or not to proceed with his claim under the Workmen’s Compensation Act after being told of the amount of compensation he will receive or to take out a civil suit against the employer. An employee who fails to respond within the 28 days after receiving the notice of assessment will forfeit his right to sue under common law.

With the extension of coverage of the revised Act, basic work injury compensation would be made available to 2.1 million employees; including both manual and non-manual workers.

The amiable father of two children was no stranger to AUPE. He was actively involved in our sports activities and had often encouraged his branch members to compete in sporting activities such as soccer and sepak takraw at inter-branch and union level. Many a time, the teams that he had helped to field had won trophies and did the union proud.

A member since 1970, Salim has maintained his ties with AUPE as an Associate member.

Ms Betty Leong had retired at age 56 to look after her in-laws. She found life more meaningful since her retirement as she has more time to spend with her loved ones. She has continued to be an Associate member as she finds AUPE benefits attractive and relevant to her needs.

Ms Teresa Chua, formerly from the Ministry of Home Affairs, is now more fit and healthy as she exercises more regularly and meet up with old friends. She enjoys the slower pace of life but might consider working if she can find a suitable job that is not too demanding.

In view of a healthier lifestyle and longer lifespan, all had not ruled out the possibility for a second career if opportunity arises.

Former AUPE staff Ms Seah Ah Lar had embarked on a part-time career after retirement to keep her mind and body active. She enthused that as long as she is healthy and fit, she would continue to work to keep herself busy and earn some pocket money.

The annual Retirees Party was held on 27 December 2007 at Wisma AUPE, Lee Kong Chian Hall where some 150 retired members who had 10 years or more continuous membership with the union were invited.

Besides a sumptuous dinner, our guests received a door gift each. The luckier ones went home with prizes won at the lucky draw.

AUPE Vice-Presidents and key union officials were at the function to catch up with their old friends and colleagues.

The AUPE Group kicked off its first workplan seminar at Shenzhen, China and Hong Kong from 24 to 27 January 2008.

Called the AUPE Co-operatives Workplan Seminar, it involved 42 directors, internal auditors and staff members from the three AUPE Co-operatives. They are namely the AUPE Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Ltd, the AUPE General Services Co-operative Ltd and the AUPE Foundation Co-operative Ltd.

Speaking at the opening of the Seminar, General Secretary Teo Yock Ngee emphasised the importance of our Co-operatives to stay on track, viable and sustainable in a competitive environment.

AUPE Co-operatives would be putting up their respective work plans towards a bigger Master Plan in 2009. To commemorate the union’s 50th anniversary, the AUPE Group would work on a calendar of events with activities to celebrate the anniversaries of their organisations.

The AUPE Group will subject itself to system audit to comply with the principles of corporate governance.

Standard Operating Procedures would be developed to guide all aspects of operations and administration.

The Co-op would find ways to beef up its service to serve our members better and effectively. Professionalism and innovative work processes would be the main thrusts towards service excellence.

The Co-op’s current vision statement would be revisited as a Group.

Another initiative is to build up the network of overseas counterparts. More opportunities would be given to directors and senior staff to attend future International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) General Assemblies.

AUPE Deputy General Secretary (DGS) Yeo Chun Fing’s presentation on the above gave participants a better understanding of the financial resources of the AUPE Group and on how its funds were managed. They were asked to think on how to maximise the returns from funds so as to add value to our service to members in terms of better benefits and services. This would mean taking more calculated risks in our investments.

DGS Ma Wei Cheng spoke on the intertwined interests and relationship between the union and AUPE Co-operative. He urged union and Co-op officials to organise joint recruitment talks and to provide servicing support to its members. On upping the quality of our service, he suggested the feasibility of tapping on information technology. For example, members who have access to Internet could apply for hospitalisation claims, or withdraw their money on-line, hence saving them a trip to the office. He hoped participants could think of more ideas to enlarge business opportunities such as innovative products and to cast our net wider and deeper for new businesses.

The consultants from the Professional Investment Advisory Services Pte Ltd presented a real scenario of how we could place a portion of our funds in a strategic way to derive significant gains from it as compared to current practices. A healthy and fruitful discussion followed on the opportunities and risks of such ways to manage our funds.

The 52-member delegation also took the opportunity to deepen fraternal ties with our overseas counterpart and PSI affiliate, the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants’ Association (HKCCSA) in Hong Kong on 26 January 08.

At the invitation of Mr Peter Wong Hyo, President of HKCCSA, the delegation attended the prize-giving ceremony of the Association’s 25th Civil Service Table Tennis Tournament and thereafter to a buffet dinner hosted by HKCCSA held at YMCA International House at Kowloon. In addition to the sumptuous dinner reception, our delegation went on a city tour by night accompanied by our Hong Kong comrades.

AUPE wishes to express its appreciation to our HKCCSA comrades, whose warm hospitality and generosity had made the trip a memorable and fruitful one for all members of the delegation.

Following the successful completion of the Branch Triennial General Meeting on 24 May 07, a new inclusive committee with a good blend of new and senior committee members was elected for the term 2007-2010. Hence the idea to set out the priorities and orientate the new branch officials became more imperative for the branch.

On 27 Oct 2007 the committee set out for a weekend retreat at the Holiday Inn Resort, Batam. The fine weather in the morning and the smooth ferry ride was a good start for the branch. Upon arrival at the Resort in Batam, the committee immediately got down to business and held their branch meeting in the meeting room.

After the branch meeting, dinner was seafood BBQ at the poolside with more interaction and bonding amongst the new and senior branch officials. The informal social gathering brought the committee closer and allows them to know each other better.

The retreat continued the next morning with sharing of information on the union in terms of structure, membership, welfare and benefits, and leadership and education for union officials. The objective is to equip the newly elected leaders with background knowledge in order to do their work better as branch officials. It also allowed the officials to list out and address the priorities for the committee for the new term. The session ended with consensus from everyone with a work plan for the branch to work on.

Even though the program was very tight, everybody had contributed their ideas and enjoyed the retreat and each other’s company. They returned to Singapore with fond memories. All these would not be possible without the strong support from AUPE. NParks Staff Branch would like to express our appreciation to AUPE for making this retreat a fruitful and memorable one.

“We cannot solve the problems we have created with the same thinking that created them.” – Albert Einstein

Almost every other day, we hear news reports, see articles in the papers on workers in the Asia-Pacific region struggling for decent jobs and wages, and of people denied essential necessities like electricity and water resources in their community. The question then begs to be asked is what constitutes Public Service? What sort of services and goods should be made easily accessible to the public? Should public employees be less valued because they are providing public service, which does not generate profits? May it never be so.

Quality Public Services took centrestage from 12-14 December 2007 at a workshop organised by Public Services International (PSI) Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO). Over 70 participants from the PSI affiliates in the Asia Pacific region turned up at Grand Boulevard Hotel, Manila, Philippines to discuss and plot an action plan for the quality public services campaign in the region.

Three participants from AUPE, Deputy General Secretaries Ma Wei Cheng, P Menon and National Secretary Tan Sze Wei attended the interesting and fruitful workshop in Manila together with other Singapore affiliated members from the Housing & Development Board Staff Union, Public Utilities Board Employees Union and Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority Workers' Union.

The workshop kick started with PSI Health & Municipal Services Officer, Dr Jorge R Mancillas’s presentation on PSI global policy and strategic objectives. The background for the policy was due to the progression of reforms (outsourcing and contracting out) of public services thus leading to global trends such as privatisation and decentralisation, which pose threats to quality public service and also worsening the employment conditions of public employees.

PSI launched their major campaign at the 2002 PSI Congress. The second stage of the PSI's Quality Public Services (QPS) campaign will be implemented during the Congress period 2007-2012. The focus of the campaign will be at the international, regional, sub-regional and national levels. A comprehensive strategy, which involves alliances with Non-Governmental Organisations, International Bodies and Institutions, was presented by Dr Jorge stressing the importance of empowering workers and that PSI should act as a voice for them.

PSI Research Officer-Asia Ms Violeta P Corral gave a comprehensive presentation on global institutions, their policies and organisations. She also elaborated on PSI’s engagement activities with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the modes of PSI's engagement with it.

To facilitate and materialise the adopted strategic objectives at the recent World Congress of PSI, the workshop was divided into 4 sectoral areas for group discussions as follows:

Regional Secretary Mr Katsuhiko Sato summed up the workshop with a proposed action plan for the AP region after the workshop deliberations. He sets out targets that PSI and affiliates should work towards to ensure quality public service for our future. He proposed a roadmap for PSI QPS campaign for the next 5 years aiming to strengthen the labour movement, engage in social dialogues and collaborate with partners who share the same vision. Some of the targets include promoting environment awareness and sustainability, and also contributing to the achievement of the UN millennium development goals.

The workshop helped us to realise and further understand that while modern technologies have resulted in incredible benefits, they have also opened a Pandora’s box of widening income gap and increase in inequality. Through the active participation and generous sharing of information and experiences of the participants in their respective countries, we realise that cruel realities and fate await workers if they continue to remain ignorant of the challenges and trends happening around them. May we all persist in doing good and well despite all odds.

Contributed by Khoo Lee Huay, Vice-Chairman of MOE Staff Branch and Janaki Perumal, Executive Councillor and Assistant Secretary of NEA Staff Branch

At the invitation of Vietnam Public Sector Union (VPSU) Women’s Committee, a 4-member delegation led by Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC, Mdm Halimah Yacob and AUPE Deputy General Secretary Noor Shyma together with AUPE women branch officials, Ms Khoo Lee Huay and Ms Janaki Perumal, attended a joint workshop held at Da Nang, Vietnam from 15 to 19 December 2007.

VPSU’s Vice-President, sister Hoang Thi Hoa and her women’s committee members warmly received the delegation upon arrival.

The delegation departed for Quang Nam Province, home of two World Cultural Heritage sites by UNESCO : My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An Ancient Town the next day.

The historic relics of My Son was once a group of more than 70 temples of the Champa Kingdom, built from the 4th century until late 13th and early 14th centuries. Most of the Hindu architectures and sculptures were damaged due to natural and war-related disasters. We were amazed by the building techniques of laying bricks, without any mortar, by the ancient Champa people. Visitors were treated to some traditional festival dances at the end of the tour.

Hoi An, another UNESCO Cultural Heritage site, has 1,360 relics and landscapes. Our pretty Vietnamese local guides in ‘Ao Dai’ costumes explained that Hoi An preserves its original architectures, including houses, temples, pagodas, streets, religious and non-religious worshipping structures. We crossed the Japanese covered bridge to see the 200-year old house, Tan Ky Ancient house, with unique Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese architectural styles. The clean, narrow streets of Hoi An were lined with Assembly Halls (once temples), cloth and fashion shops.

The Joint-Training Workshop was held on Monday, 17 Dec 2007. Mr Phan Viet Thong, President of PSU, Da Nang and Federation of Labour, welcomed all delegates to the 2-day seminar. Mr Phan extended his best wishes and hoped that both Singapore and Vietnam trade unions would share their experiences, knowledge and activities and further strengthen fraternal ties.

Sister Hoang, Vice-President of VPSU reiterated the rights of women, roles and status of women in society. She hoped to learn and improve Union work from the exchange and hence strengthen the co-operation between VPSU and AUPE.

NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Mdm Halimah Yacob gave a presentation on ILO Labour standards on women workers and gender issues. She also touched on Singapore’s Legislations and Collective Bargaining.

AUPE Deputy General Secretary Noor Shyma highlighted the union activities that were organised in collaboration with NTUC’s Women Committee. She also touched on the continuous training and upgrading of knowledge and skills of women leaders to meet new challenges and to better represent members.

AUPE branch officials Ms Janaki and Ms Khoo Lee Huay jointly presented on AUPE’s Organisation and Structure as well as the area on People Development.

Vietnamese counterparts from other provinces also shared their activities, experiences, and motivation awards for workers and gender equality in their country.

VPSU hosted a steamboat dinner for the delegation in the evening. Delegation members were entertained with songs and stories by our Vietnamese sisters and brothers, who have natural, melodious and strong vocals.

On 18 Dec 2007, AUPE held a sharing session with the Union of Da Nang Bank for Development.

The program kicked off with traditional Vietnamese folk songs by the Bank’s employees. Mr Nguyen Thi Son, President of Da Nang Union Bank, Vietnam Development Bank, welcomed all delegates to the meeting. It was followed by an exchange of gifts. Sister Ha Thi Lan, Head of Women’s committee of TU, Vietnam Bank for Development, Da Nang Branch reported that out of 48 employees, 45 are members. She also shared that over the years, the leadership of the Bank have co-operated with Trade Union to work more efficiently to fulfill tasks. Women’s activities included advancement of women’s status, and collaborating with management to implement policies such as salaries, recruitment, social and medical facilities. Women also play active roles in co-ordinating work rules among different departments and to improve skills with different partners at work.

Mdm Halimah Yacob gave our counterparts an insight of women’s activities in NTUC, which includes surfacing necessary changes to Employment laws to the Government to keep with the times and organising training courses especially for women members.

DGS Shyma gave a skeleton framework of the women leadership positions in AUPE. She also spoke about the difficulties of getting women to volunteer time in the Trade Union and how women leaders were encouraged to upgrade their knowledge and skills.

Mr Nguyen Thi Son hosted a lunch for VPSU & AUPE delegates after the sharing session. A short meeting was held with Mr Phan Viet Thong in the evening followed by a dinner.

On the day of our departure, a farewell lunch was hosted by Mr Phan Van Hai, President of Trade Union Office of the Party and Deputy Chief of Party Committee.

We were indeed overwhelmed by the warm hospitality showered by our Vietnamese hosts during the short stay in Vietnam. More importantly, we realised that Vietnam is undergoing rapid industrialsation and that its young and hard working workers are attractive to investors.

Some of the questions raised by the Singapore delegation during the sharing sessions:

Does Vietnam have a fund similar to the Central Provident Fund of Singapore?

Vietnam has a Social Insurance Bureau. Its Trade Union is affiliated to PSU. Employers contribute 15% while employees contribute 5%.

How much is the union subscription and what benefits do members enjoy?

The subscription fee is 3% of member’s pay. Employer pays 2% while member pays 1%. Benefits include activities for workers such as training and education; rewards/bonus for members’ achievements, organising women’s activities and pay salaries for Trade Union officials.

Do you foresee farmers abandoning their lands to join the industrialised sector?

Young people are attracted to the industralised sectors. If they are unable to find jobs or are unskilled, they move to cities to do handicrafts, household jobs or construction.

Is there a working committee with employers on workers’ safety?

There is a Trade Union University on Occupational Health. Graduates work in occupational safety in industries. Vietnam labour laws require all enterprises to have Safety Councils. Unions co-operate with Ministry of Labour in implementing Occupational Health.

Mutual Aid Welfare Schemes are financial assistance schemes provided to members by the Union. Cash payments are made to members and their families in the event of death in the family, permanent disability and/or hospitalisation suffered by the member, regardless of whether the accident occurs during or outside working hours. All members with at least one-year membership and who are not in arrears in subscription payments are eligible to apply for the benefits under the Schemes. For hospitalisation benefit, a member can make a claim immediately after his union membership has been approved and his subscription received.

Nominated beneficiaries of associate members are eligible to claim for cash benefits under this scheme in the event of death or permanent disability of member, death of member’s spouse, death of member’s children and death of member’s parents.

Ordinary and Ordinary (general) members are eligible to claim for cash benefits under this scheme in the event of death of member’s children and parents.

Nominated beneficiaries of associate members are eligible to claim for cash benefit ranging from $300 to $1,200 depending on the years of membership upon death of the member.

Ordinary, Ordinary (general) members and associate members below the age of 65 can claim a cash benefit of $30 per day for the first ten days of hospitalisation and $40 from the 11th day of hospitalisation to a maximum of 52 weeks. To be eligible, members have to pay a monthly levy of $2 in addition to the monthly union subscription.

NTUC Gift is a group insurance that covers death and permanent and total disability due to natural causes and accidents.

It covers ordinary and ordinary (general) members who are between 16 to 65 years of age, with at least 6 months of continuous union membership and must be physically and actively at work.

With effect from 1 May 07, the following extensions are made:

coverage of up to age 68 years if membership is 10 years or more

coverage of up to age 70 years if membership is 20 years or more

coverage of up to age 75 years if membership is 30 years or more

For year 2007, NTUC had settled a total of 43 claims to members under the NTUC Gift. Details of the claims paid out are shown below:

For year 2007, AUPE members had also benefited from the following financial relief schemes administered by NTUC to help lower-income workers:

Members of AUPE or AUPE Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, with at least one year’s membership as of 1 April 2008 may apply for study grants for their children.

The closing date for application is 30 April 2008. The completed Application Form and other supporting documents are to be forwarded to AUPE or AUPE Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society at 73 Bras Basah Road #03-01 NTUC Trade Union House (S) 189556. Late submission will not be entertained. Proof of posting is not accepted as evidence of submission. For enquiries, please telephone Ms Pauline Lam at Tel: 63365440.

Applications must be made on the prescribed form. The form may be downloaded from the AUPE website www.aupe.org.sg or obtained from your union representatives from 2 April 2008. Completed forms are to be submitted together with the following:

child’s 2007 year-end examination result (or if the child is in full-time National Service in 2007 his latest examination result); and

2007 Income Tax Form IR8E (employer does e-submission) or Form IR8A (employer does not do e-submission) of member and other members in his household. The Income Tax Form I