Jennie Chua and Leong Wai Leng receive separate awards from Singapore's NTUC

Two top executives of Raffles Holdings Limited (RHL) are to be recognised for their contributions, in different areas, towards the Singapore labour movement and enhancing the well-being of workers.

Ms Jennie Chua, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RHL and Ms Leong Wai Leng, Deputy CEO of RHL were conferred the “Medal of Commendation” and “Meritorious Service Award” respectively by the Singapore National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). They will receive the prestigious awards at the 2005 NTUC May Day Awards Ceremony on 29 April. The annual event is organised by NTUC to honour and award individuals and companies that have contributed significantly to the Singapore labour movement.

Ms Jennie Chua Conferred “Medal of Commendation”

In recognition of her contributions towards good industrial relations and Singapore’s workforce development, Ms Chua is one of the awardees of the “Medal of Commendation”. A firm believer in good labour-management practices, she has established good relations with the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU). As Co-Chairperson for the Hotel Working Group of the Tripartite Taskforce (Hotel Working Group) on Wage Restructuring, she led the hotel wage restructuring initiative by signing memoranda of agreement with the FDAWU. Under the agreements, the four Raffles International hotels were the first hotels in Singapore to implement a new wage model for their 2,000 frontline staff. As a key member of the Hotel Service Transformation Taskforce team, she was also actively involved in job redesign to retrain workers for redeployment during the SARS crisis in 2003. 

Mr Tan Soon Yam, General Secretary, FDAWU said, “The Union would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Ms Jennie Chua on being conferred the “Medal of Commendation” by NTUC. We would also like to take this opportunity to commend Ms Chua’s vision and commitment in leading the wage restructuring initiative in Singapore’s hotel sector to implement flexible wage systems that are responsive to dynamic business conditions. In our dealings with Ms Chua, we have found her to be an understanding, caring, considerate and objective individual and employer.” 

In addition, Ms Chua has been active in Singapore’s workforce development. Last year, she received the “Singapore National Day Public Service Medal” for her contributions as Chairman of Skills Development Fund Advisory Committee and as member of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. In 2002, she was presented the “National Productivity Award” for her dedication to workplace productivity improvement.

Ms Leong Wai Leng Conferred “Meritorious Service Award”

Ms Leong Wai Leng receives the esteemed “Meritorious Service Award” for her contributions as Chairman of the Board of Directors of NTUC Childcare Co-operative and service to families in Singapore. Formed in April 1992, the Co-operative has grown rapidly and has become a key provider of affordable, quality childcare services to support working parents and professional training for pre-school educators. Today, NTUC Childcare operates 40 childcare centres offering childcare and pre-school education to about 4,000 children and trains close to 1,000 childcare educators from Singapore and the Asia Pacific region each year. 

NTUC Secretary-General, Mr Lim Boon Heng said, “Wai Leng has contributed generously to NTUC Childcare first as Deputy Chairman and then as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the past 12 years. Her service and stewardship have helped NTUC Childcare achieve its social objective of providing good quality childcare and educational services at affordable prices, in a financially prudent and disciplined way.”

In 1999, Ms Leong was conferred the "Friend of Labour" award by the NTUC. Currently, she serves as a member of NTUC Club Management Council and Chairman of its subsidiary, NTUC Club Investments.

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