NTUC launches discounts, benefits for Pioneers

Pioneers can now get discounts and preferential treatment when they shop for groceries and dine out under a 15-month campaign launched by NTUC Enterprise on Monday (Oct 13).The Pioneer Generation is defined as living Singaporeans born on or before Dec 31 1949, and who received their citizenship by Dec 31 1986. The campaign is run by NTUC's social enterprises, which cover recreation and leisure, insurance, supermarkets, media and healthcare.

NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say kicked off the Pioneers OK! initiative, which he said aims to thank pioneers in several practical ways. The initiative comprises Pioneers Monday, Pioneers Priority and Pioneers Exclusives.

Every Monday, pioneers can show their Pioneer Generation Card to receive a 3 per cent discount at NTUC FairPrice. This is in addition to the ongoing 2 per cent discount for seniors on Tuesdays. Pioneers will also receive a 12 per cent discount when they dine at NTUC Foodfare's food courts and a 6.5 per cent discount when they shop at Unity pharmacies every Monday.

Madam Esther Joseph, 81, is looking forward to the discounts: "Mondays and Tuesdays are now the best days for me to shop at NTUC. Of course it helps, because I am getting something cheaper."

In Pioneers Priority, NTUC FairPrice supermarkets will designate priority queues every day for pioneers when they pay for their groceries - a move, which got the thumbs up from 65-year-old Lim Bee Kiew. "No need to queue for so long," she said. Pioneers who dine at NTUC Foodfare food courts will also get priority seats. 

Exclusive programmes will also be made available to Pioneers under Pioneers Exclusives. NTUC LearningHub will be running monthly classes to teach pioneers how to use smart devices such as smartphones and tablets.

In addition, NTUC Income will launch a personal accident plan called PioneerCare, which has no ceiling for the entry age. Pioneers will be able to purchase the plan at a preferential rate of 10 per cent less than the current SilverCare premium rate.

About 150 pioneers from Ang Mo Kio Constituency's Teck Ghee ward attended the campaign launch on Monday near AMK Hub.

They were treated to breakfast and some entertainment, and were shown the priority seats specially set aside for them at NTUC Foodfare food court at AMK Hub as well as use the priority queue at NTUC FairPrice.

Currently the discounts and privileges are targeted at daily essentials, such as food. But there are plans to introduce new benefits every quarter, and these could be targeted at healthcare, or even education.

Said Mr Lim: "Our NTUC social enterprises are in a different line of business. They have different sets of products and services covering different areas. We believe that in each of these areas, the scope for us to come up with creative ideas, to make the product, the services, more affordable, more accessible, and more importantly, to tailor to their requirements."

Towards the end of the 15-month campaign, the initiative will be reviewed to see if it should be extended.