SINGAPORE — For the next 15 months, members of the nation’s pioneer generation can expect discounts and preferential treatment when they shop at NTUC supermarkets or dine at its food courts, under a new initiative by NTUC Enterprise.

“Pioneers OK! is NTUC social enterprises’ way of expressing appreciation for the pioneers of Singapore ... It is a small way to say ‘thank you’ to the pioneers for their contribution to nation-building, as well as recognise the important roles they continue to play in our lives today,” said NTUC secretary-general Lim Swee Say, who kicked off the campaign at AMK Hub yesterday.

The initiative, which will run till the end of next year, has three components: Pioneers Monday, Pioneers Priority and Pioneers Exclusives.

Under Pioneers Monday, seniors will receive discounts every Monday at NTUC FairPrice (3 per cent), NTUC Foodfare (12 per cent) and NTUC Unity (6.5 per cent). The discounts are in addition to the ones that seniors are already entitled to at some NTUC outlets on Tuesdays.

Priority queues will also be created for them at NTUC supermarkets, pharmacies, food courts and NTUC Income branches under the Pioneers Priority scheme.

The Pioneers Exclusives programmes will enable seniors to sign up for courses on using the latest technology, or buy a new personal accident insurance plan, PioneerCare, that is specially designed for them.

Several pioneers welcomed the NTUC Enterprise initiative, and offered a few suggestions on how it could be made even better.

A regular FairPrice shopper, who wanted to be known only as Mr Cham, said: “I think the priority queues and Monday discounts would help us a lot. We can save time and save money.”

“However, I think the signs (for priority queues) should be made more visible. Who will read the stickers on the floor? The cashiers should also be trained to remind us to present our pioneer cards. At the priority counters, cashiers should only serve those with priority cards,” the 67-year-old said.

Madam Lee, 65, who shops at NTUC FairPrice at Ang Mo Kio daily, said: “I think that the signboards at the priority counters should not be written only in English because some elderly people cannot read English. There should also be staff ushering the pioneers to the priority counters because some of us might not know that there are such counters.”

Madam Ng, 75, plans to use her red-and-white card more often. “Usually I don’t bring my Pioneer card out, but knowing that there are priority queues and discount, I will start bringing my card out,” she said. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ELGIN CHONG