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[h=2]The Problem with S’pore: Too Many Low Quality Foreign
Talents[/h]
September 13th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Recently I read a comment from a fellow Singaporean
complaining that a “foreign talent” who could not even communicate in the
English language was able get hired as an accountant. Singaporeans who were
better qualified and could speak good English were not even considered today. I
was wondering why was this guy feeling so bitter about the matter? Today, I
finally understood what he meant.
I brought seven items to the cashier at the two dollar store at Plaza
Singapura Shopping Mall today. Each item cost two dollars and that meant the
seven items would cost a total of fourteen dollars. The cashier on duty was a
young lady in her early twenties who was obviously a foreign talent from China.
I have nothing against foreign talents to tell you the truth. They are here in
my country to look for an honest job. When I presented the cashier my seven
items, she started counting them aloud one by one,” One, two, three four, five,
seven, eight.” Immediately she keyed into the cash register and said,”Sixteen
dollars”.
I was perplexed. I told her that there were seven items. Not eight.
Immediately she recounted the items once again,” One, two, three four, five,
seven, eight. Eight items.”
I said seven and started counting the items one by one aloud and she counted
along as well. So we went,” One, two, three, four, five… six”, I stressed. The
funny part was that she still skipped number six and still counted seven. “Seven
items not eight”, I said gesturing with my fingers. At that moment her
assistant, a Filipino lady took over and counted the items as seven and
apologised to me. It was only then that the cashier said sorry to me. She then
fidgeted with the cash register not knowing what to do next. It was until her
assistant instructed her on what to do next was when I finally got back my
change and left the store.
I do not mind when someone makes an error at their job. However, I can’t
understand how someone who can’t even count from one to ten correctly was hired
as a cashier in the very first place. I’m even more alarmed that thousands of
foreign talents like the cashier I just met are replacing my fellow countrymen
and women who now can’t even find the most basic jobs to support themselves in
their homeland. You can’t simply ignore things like these once you have seen it
with your very own eyes. If you are a tourist visiting Singapore, there is a 6
out of 10 chance that you will be served by a foreign talent. Do not ask me why,
for I do not know where all my fellow Singaporeans disappeared to.
.
Sharif Ishnin
Talents[/h]
Recently I read a comment from a fellow Singaporean
complaining that a “foreign talent” who could not even communicate in the
English language was able get hired as an accountant. Singaporeans who were
better qualified and could speak good English were not even considered today. I
was wondering why was this guy feeling so bitter about the matter? Today, I
finally understood what he meant.
I brought seven items to the cashier at the two dollar store at Plaza
Singapura Shopping Mall today. Each item cost two dollars and that meant the
seven items would cost a total of fourteen dollars. The cashier on duty was a
young lady in her early twenties who was obviously a foreign talent from China.
I have nothing against foreign talents to tell you the truth. They are here in
my country to look for an honest job. When I presented the cashier my seven
items, she started counting them aloud one by one,” One, two, three four, five,
seven, eight.” Immediately she keyed into the cash register and said,”Sixteen
dollars”.
I was perplexed. I told her that there were seven items. Not eight.
Immediately she recounted the items once again,” One, two, three four, five,
seven, eight. Eight items.”
I said seven and started counting the items one by one aloud and she counted
along as well. So we went,” One, two, three, four, five… six”, I stressed. The
funny part was that she still skipped number six and still counted seven. “Seven
items not eight”, I said gesturing with my fingers. At that moment her
assistant, a Filipino lady took over and counted the items as seven and
apologised to me. It was only then that the cashier said sorry to me. She then
fidgeted with the cash register not knowing what to do next. It was until her
assistant instructed her on what to do next was when I finally got back my
change and left the store.
I do not mind when someone makes an error at their job. However, I can’t
understand how someone who can’t even count from one to ten correctly was hired
as a cashier in the very first place. I’m even more alarmed that thousands of
foreign talents like the cashier I just met are replacing my fellow countrymen
and women who now can’t even find the most basic jobs to support themselves in
their homeland. You can’t simply ignore things like these once you have seen it
with your very own eyes. If you are a tourist visiting Singapore, there is a 6
out of 10 chance that you will be served by a foreign talent. Do not ask me why,
for I do not know where all my fellow Singaporeans disappeared to.
.
Sharif Ishnin
