The annual event was last held in 2020 right before the onset of the pandemic as a global emergency. It’s return as in person event this year again allowed seniors from care homes adopted by SMOU to attend the luncheon and receive Hong Bao’s face-to-face.
In his opening remarks Gwee Guo Duan, Assistant General-Secretary of SMOU, noted that activities had continued throughout the pandemic. “While there was no physical luncheon event, SMOU’s innovation has enabled us to safely deliver both the “luncheon” and auspicious Hong Bao to your doorstep! In total, SMOU was able to distribute S$80,000 worth of Hong Baos to 1,000 seniors across 2021 & 2022!”
Guest-of-Honour at the luncheon was Singapore Minister for Manpower & Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Tan See Leng, and Special Guest NTUC Secretary General, Ng Chee Meng, and amongst guests was also Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance Chee Hong Tat.
This year, SMOU is giving out almost 800 hong baos, festive gifts and goodie bags valued more than S$55,000 to various groups of senior citizens – SMOU senior members; SMOU-adopted Henderson Senior Citizen Home; NTUC Health Nursing Home (Chai Chee); Jamiyah Home for the Aged; and senior residents of the Jalan Besar community.
While continuing its community outreach work during the pandemic, like many others SMOU also focused on digitalisation.
“The pandemic has accelerated the use of technology, and many services have incorporated digitalisation and changes into their processes and interaction. While this trend favours the younger generation, we believe seniors should not be left behind, as such SMOU continues to redesign our playbook to ensure that they can keep up with digilisation,” Gwee said.
Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI) the training arm of SMOU, is currently investing resources to develop a cloud-based e-learning platform Learning Management System (LMS).
The new cloud-based platform will be able to deliver company specific mandatory trainings, assessments, as well as bridge and engine room simulation exercises, to seafarers right in their living room before they leave for their next deployment.
Post time: Jan-28-2023