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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Real foreign talent or cheap talent?</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"></TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89_ <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:36 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right>(1 of 2) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"></TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>52574.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD id=msgtxt_1 class=msgtxt>Real foreign talent or cheap talent?
June 12th, 2011 |
Author: Contributions |
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Talent? Real foreign talent?
Not in Singapore. At least from what I have observed during my stay in the West, the calibre of foreign talent here is way lower than the foreign talent that I saw in other First World countries.
Now, I am not trying to say that there are no real foreign talent at all in Singapore, neither am I concluding that all foreigners based in the West are truly talented. But, where I am coming from based on my experiences, Singapore is sadly, sorely lacking behind other other 1st world countries in recruiting real foreign talent.
Firstly, our policies make it too easy for any tom, dick or harry to enter our shores. The absence of a minimum wage, no OT pay, stagnant wages and a weak union makes Singapore a place highly unattractive for a highly qualified professional FT to settle here. It attracts however, those who are used to sweat-shop environments back in their 3rd world homes, to work an extra long mile for peanuts. Is it no wonder right now that despite our high GDP, Singapore has the lowest productivity among 1st world nations? We once pride in our workforce and work ethics…not anymore.
Secondly, there is hardly a strict English requirement enforced on FTs. Many of the so-called FTs here can’t even understand basic English. Once, I was in a petrol station (SPC at Toa Payoh), and 2 Singaporean-Malay girls asked the PRC cashier where they can find
aluminum foil. The cashier replied, “What is aluminum foil?”. Surprised and annoyed, I the customer, had to show the girls where the foil was located. These days, it seems to me that Singaporean customers are serving each other rather than the service staff, thanks to their rotten English.
Thirdly, without the Singaporean-first priority in our job policies, any foreigner can fill up a vacancy without strict screenings that most 1st world countries usually employ. Such a policy will not only make sure that our locals are protected, it will also force the employer to employ a FT who is highly skilled with excellent English skills, should a local be unable to fill that position.
Fourthly, there seems to be a growing trend among companies to replace 1st world country foreigners with 3rd world foreigners, and replace high-talented foreigners with inexperienced, junior foreign staff. I have known a few 1st world FTs who complain that they themselves have been misplaced by these cheaper foreign labour, who do not even have recognised degrees and half the skills they have. One European worker shared that within months of being employed, his ex-boss dismissed him saying that he wanted to cut costs by hiring a PRC (not even a Singaporean comes to mind) in his place instead. Not only that, his ideas were stolen and continued by the new PRC worker. Another recounted how he was made to accept peanut pay in Singapore because of his nationality rather than based on his extremely good CV and awards to his name. He was ultimately accepted by Hollywood instead and has thus succeeded.
Fifthly, our service sector which we have prided in for years, have gone from bad to worse. More and more cases of rude staff and their obnoxious behaviors are surfacing, things that would not have been tolerated at the smallest a decade ago. Since most of these service
staff are foreign workers who have not even the slightest clue on Singaporean manners and ethics (thanks to our govt’s chiding us to be more understanding and gracious to foreigners rather than vice versa), we have ceased to have breathing space for our own national identity.
.
Hopeless Sinkaporean
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Talent? Real foreign talent?
Not in Singapore. At least from what I have observed during my stay in the West, the calibre of foreign talent here is way lower than the foreign talent that I saw in other First World countries.
Now, I am not trying to say that there are no real foreign talent at all in Singapore, neither am I concluding that all foreigners based in the West are truly talented. But, where I am coming from based on my experiences, Singapore is sadly, sorely lacking behind other other 1st world countries in recruiting real foreign talent.
Firstly, our policies make it too easy for any tom, dick or harry to enter our shores. The absence of a minimum wage, no OT pay, stagnant wages and a weak union makes Singapore a place highly unattractive for a highly qualified professional FT to settle here. It attracts however, those who are used to sweat-shop environments back in their 3rd world homes, to work an extra long mile for peanuts. Is it no wonder right now that despite our high GDP, Singapore has the lowest productivity among 1st world nations? We once pride in our workforce and work ethics…not anymore.
Secondly, there is hardly a strict English requirement enforced on FTs. Many of the so-called FTs here can’t even understand basic English. Once, I was in a petrol station (SPC at Toa Payoh), and 2 Singaporean-Malay girls asked the PRC cashier where they can find
aluminum foil. The cashier replied, “What is aluminum foil?”. Surprised and annoyed, I the customer, had to show the girls where the foil was located. These days, it seems to me that Singaporean customers are serving each other rather than the service staff, thanks to their rotten English.
Thirdly, without the Singaporean-first priority in our job policies, any foreigner can fill up a vacancy without strict screenings that most 1st world countries usually employ. Such a policy will not only make sure that our locals are protected, it will also force the employer to employ a FT who is highly skilled with excellent English skills, should a local be unable to fill that position.
Fourthly, there seems to be a growing trend among companies to replace 1st world country foreigners with 3rd world foreigners, and replace high-talented foreigners with inexperienced, junior foreign staff. I have known a few 1st world FTs who complain that they themselves have been misplaced by these cheaper foreign labour, who do not even have recognised degrees and half the skills they have. One European worker shared that within months of being employed, his ex-boss dismissed him saying that he wanted to cut costs by hiring a PRC (not even a Singaporean comes to mind) in his place instead. Not only that, his ideas were stolen and continued by the new PRC worker. Another recounted how he was made to accept peanut pay in Singapore because of his nationality rather than based on his extremely good CV and awards to his name. He was ultimately accepted by Hollywood instead and has thus succeeded.
Fifthly, our service sector which we have prided in for years, have gone from bad to worse. More and more cases of rude staff and their obnoxious behaviors are surfacing, things that would not have been tolerated at the smallest a decade ago. Since most of these service
staff are foreign workers who have not even the slightest clue on Singaporean manners and ethics (thanks to our govt’s chiding us to be more understanding and gracious to foreigners rather than vice versa), we have ceased to have breathing space for our own national identity.
.
Hopeless Sinkaporean
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