NTUC nominates veteran unionist as MP candidate

NTUC nominates veteran unionist as MP candidate

SINGAPORE - Veteran unionist K. Thanaletchimi has been put forward by the labour movement to be a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) to represent its interests in the House.

The 50-year-old is an elected member of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) central committee and president of the Healthcare Services Employees' Union.

In a statement endorsing her candidacy, the NTUC said on Friday that she played an instrumental role in pushing for and working with management partners on efforts to create job opportunities for Singaporeans in the healthcare industry through work redesign initiatives.

Ms Thanaletchimi said in a statement that if appointed, she "will continue to advance the interests of all working people on issues that matter most to them, such as jobs and cost of living, with a special interest and emphasis on women and improving healthcare affordability".

She was elected as president of the National University Hospital Employees' Union (NUHEU) at the age of 30 in 1996 and drove the merger of NUHEU and the Healthcare Corporation of Singapore Staff Union, which led to the successful formation in 2006 of HSEU, which she now heads.

The NMP scheme was launched in 1990 to have more alternative voices in Parliament, and up to nine NMPs can be appointed.

Nominations for NMPs are also invited from seven sectors to ensure they are represented in the House: business and industry; the professions; the labour movement; social service organisations; the civic and people sector; tertiary education institutions; and the arts, media and sports.

Parliament has put out a call for NMPs and people have until 4.30pm on Feb 23 to propose individuals they deem suitable. Forms are available at Parliament House or on the Parliament website.

charyong@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on February 20, 2016.
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