~ Eligible union members can receive up to $120 NTUC Care (U Stretch) e-Vouchers, helping to ease cost of living pressures ~
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) today announced the launch of the 2025 NTUC Care (U Stretch) Programme, providing targeted assistance to lower income union members to help them offset daily expenses. Applications will be open from 30 July to 3 September 2025, with successful applicants receiving up to $120 in e-Vouchers.
This initiative is part of NTUC’s continued efforts to support working families amid growing cost pressures. With $1.2 million in funding, the 2025 programme offers practical relief for union members, allowing them to stretch their dollar further in areas such as groceries, healthcare and daily meals.
Speaking on the initiative, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the NTUC Care Division, Melvin Yong, said: “As a union, we understand the cost pressures working families face. The NTUC Care (U Stretch) Programme provides timely relief and tangible support by helping our union members stretch their household budgets further. It is a clear reflection of NTUC’s commitment to walk alongside our members, not just at the workplace, but in their everyday lives.”
Against the backdrop of slowing economic growth and households under rising cost strain, the NTUC Care (U Stretch) e-Vouchers come at a critical time. Singapore’s 2025 GDP is projected to grow just 0% to 2%, a downward revision largely attributed to the impact of US tariffs on trade. Meanwhile, even with headline inflation dipping below 1%, everyday expenses like food, utilities, petrol and rent remain uncomfortably high for many lower income families. The NTUC Care (U Stretch) e-Vouchers deliver targeted, practical relief to help union members absorb increases in daily living expenses. They provide extra support for households in an increasingly uncertain global and domestic economic environment.
The latest edition of the programme also sees a new collaboration with RedeemSG, a digital voucher system developed by Open Government Products (OGP), a tech agency that builds technology for the public good. This partnership will enable the NTUC Care (U Stretch) e-Vouchers to be issued and redeemed digitally, offering union members greater convenience through a seamless redemption experience.
NTUC Care (U Stretch) Programme Details
Under the 2025 NTUC Care (U Stretch) Programme, eligible union members will receive up to $120 in e-Vouchers to help offset the cost of daily essentials. The e-Vouchers will be disbursed in denominations of $1, $2, $5 and $10, allowing union members to use them flexibly across purchases and will be valid for use until 31 December 2025. See Annex A for the key milestones for the NTUC Care (U Stretch) Programme.
To qualify for the programme, applicants must be NTUC members with at least six continuous months of membership as of the application date, with no outstanding membership arrears.
The income criteria are as follows:
The award quantum is as follows:
Union members can redeem their e-Vouchers at participating merchants, including FairPrice supermarkets, Unity pharmacies, as well as Kopitiam food courts.
Application Period
Applications for the NTUC Care (U Stretch) Programme will be open from 30 July 2025, 12pm to 3 September 2025, 4pm. Members are encouraged to visit https://www.ntuc.org.sg/ntuccareustretch for full eligibility details and application instructions.
