Singapore’s labour movement and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) have launched a new grant of $300 for companies which champion health-promotion activities on behalf of their workers. They hope at least 50 businesses will qualify this year.
Organisations will get a $200 grant from HPB and $100 from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to fund programmes that boost workers’ health.
HPB is also giving out Body Mass Index-measuring machines on loan and will conduct health-related workshops for companies.
In particular, the government and public body is focusing on the health of women in Singapore’s workforce. Based on findings from a 2007 Health Ministry survey which concluded that an alarming 55% of women did not exercise at all, NTUC’ Women's Development Secretariat (WDS) has prepared a fitness video containing a set of eight exercises to encourage women to lead a more active lifestyle. Copies of the video will be distributed via NTUC’s 61 affiliated unions.
Working women with children are especially cheering the move. Sharon Goh, 33, an accounts assistant with an education company said she doesn’t exercise because of a busy schedule and familial commitments during the weekends. “I'm excited to try out the (exercises in the) fitness video at home … I welcome moves by my company to introduce activities to improve my health, whatever they may be.”
Madam Halimah Yacob, deputy secretary-general of NTUC and director of the WDS said all these measures to improve workers’ health will also benefit companies’ productivity. “If an employee is unhealthy, falls sick very frequently, your MC level goes up,” she said. “Everyday an employee goes on MC, it's (costly) to the employer. And then now we are talking about working up to 65, 67, no retirement age even, obviously health has become a critical factor.”
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