PM Lee: What future do you want for Singapore?

[3Boys]

If we all cleared our trays and cutlery after eating at the food court/hawker centre, we can cut the cleaners down by 70%.

[corneyAmber]

3Boys:

If we all cleared our trays and cutlery after eating at the food court/hawker centre, we can cut the cleaners down by 70%.

:hi5: We do that.

[concern2]

3Boys:

If we all cleared our trays and cutlery after eating at the food court/hawker centre, we can cut the cleaners down by 70%.

How to derive at 70%? :scratchhead:

[concern2]

Laura02:

I was talking to the Lao Pan Niang of my local food court. She complained that she cannot get people to clean tables for the food court. One local auntie said she will not clean toilets, will not wash plates, only clear tables. My friend was so short of manpower that she agreed. Auntie came for one day, next day no show, and didn't even call to say that she wasn't coming.

My other friend who runs a restaurant at a hotel also said that they have problems finding local people to work. They can't find enough local kitchen staff, but surprising, find Koreans willing to come here under local contract to work in the kitchen.
So now, I always use a tray and clear my own tray after eating.

Foreigners work here do not get recognized by their own people while local aunties will get recognized by friends and relatives. Let's be frank - It is still considered 'lowly' to work as cleaners here - agree? Would you want your parents to work as cleaners if you could afford them not to? Foreigners come here work at food court can tell their family back home they are \"chefs at renowned restaurant\", and a foreigner who accepts cleaning job here could have a Uni degree, for all we know! Maybe the aunty's children heard about her accepting the cleaning job and asked her not to go back? Even if aunty doesn't mind, maybe the kids would mind? \"What, you let your mother be cleaner at xxx food court arh? You zek ark ah!\" Singapore is sooooo small, man! You'll never know who you're going to bump into!

[Way2GO]

Laura02:

I was talking to the Lao Pan Niang of my local food court. She complained that she cannot get people to clean tables for the food court. One local auntie said she will not clean toilets, will not wash plates, only clear tables. My friend was so short of manpower that she agreed. Auntie came for one day, next day no show, and didn't even call to say that she wasn't coming.

My other friend who runs a restaurant at a hotel also said that they have problems finding local people to work. They can't find enough local kitchen staff, but surprising, find Koreans willing to come here under local contract to work in the kitchen.
So now, I always use a tray and clear my own tray after eating.

Cleaners r still paid, :whut: $600 - $800 / mth?
wld u do these menial jobs for 10 -12 hours/day at such low pay n be able to support a family or when you r elderly?

I asked a few of Chinese FWs working in a popular Korean BBQ restaurant in d East.
d waiters/waitresses came here FOBs, first time working in SG, on 2 years contract, working about 12 hours a day for $950/mth, no OT. IIRC, they also hv to pay rent.
Guess wat? - they don't intend to renew their contracts when it's up.
They say its not worth it.

Don't go away thinking its only d locals who r being selective.
d high turnover is a real problem for management ppl in service industry, but pinning d blame entirely on locals not wanting to work (at low pay under those working conditions) is just a convenient explanation.

Its d high rental dat's killing a lot of these businesses.

[Way2GO]

Daddy

MM Lee \"...our young men, having been to school, they don't want to do that...\"

LPPL... Teach our young men to sweep floors and clear rubbish?
That's what they do in army anyway...
:?

Did they bring dis back into NSF?
Understand all cleaning jobs in SAF sub out to contractors fr many years ago liao.

[concern2]

Way2GO:

Did they bring dis back into NSF?
Understand all cleaning jobs in SAF sub out to contractors fr many years ago liao.

Donno whether to laugh about this or to cry. :faint:

[Lilac66]

concern2:

Laura02:

I was talking to the Lao Pan Niang of my local food court. She complained that she cannot get people to clean tables for the food court. One local auntie said she will not clean toilets, will not wash plates, only clear tables. My friend was so short of manpower that she agreed. Auntie came for one day, next day no show, and didn't even call to say that she wasn't coming.

My other friend who runs a restaurant at a hotel also said that they have problems finding local people to work. They can't find enough local kitchen staff, but surprising, find Koreans willing to come here under local contract to work in the kitchen.
So now, I always use a tray and clear my own tray after eating.

Foreigners work here do not get recognized by their own people while local aunties will get recognized by friends and relatives. Let's be frank - It is still considered 'lowly' to work as cleaners here - agree? Would you want your parents to work as cleaners if you could afford them not to? Foreigners come here work at food court can tell their family back home they are \"chefs at renowned restaurant\", and a foreigner who accepts cleaning job here could have a Uni degree, for all we know! Maybe the aunty's children heard about her accepting the cleaning job and asked her not to go back? Even if aunty doesn't mind, maybe the kids would mind? \"What, you let your mother be cleaner at xxx food court arh? You zek ark ah!\" Singapore is sooooo small, man! You'll never know who you're going to bump into!

I believe it's also the fellow Singaporean's attitude towards such workers. It's an honest job, but these diners not only do not show appreciation when a cleaner clears the table , taking for granted that's he's paid to do the job but also these cleaners are made to feel like they are low class Singaporeans. It's really a thankless, tiring job on top of the fact that they're not adequately remunerated.


It's a wonder if any Singaporean wants such a job. It's either we clear our tables to cut down on the reliance of cleaners like 3Boy's mentioned or we embrace the fact that some of these FW are here to make our daily living a little more comfortable.

Also heard a relative in a SME company lamenting that Singaporeans ask for alot of benefits before even wanting to consider an interview. :roll:

[Way2GO]

concern2:

Way2GO:

Did they bring dis back into NSF?
Understand all cleaning jobs in SAF sub out to contractors fr many years ago liao.

Donno whether to laugh about this or to cry. :faint:

dis move I wld agree is logical.
During my time when I was a trainee, my room-mates went to bed about 1 am almost every nite n then we woke up at about 4 am for area cleaning, 5 BX, running n breakfast.
Dis was continuous for five days for a period of about 2-3 months in d run-up to ROC training.

I believe d logic behind d change is trainees n soldiers shd be spending their limited time during NSF undergoing training instead of wasting dat time on area cleaning, change parades, polishing boots n ironing uniforms (which they hv also done away with).

[concern2]

Way2GO:

concern2:

[quote=\"Way2GO\"]
Did they bring dis back into NSF?
Understand all cleaning jobs in SAF sub out to contractors fr many years ago liao.

Donno whether to laugh about this or to cry. :faint:

dis move I wld agree is logical.
During my time when I was a trainee, my room-mates went to bed about 1 am almost every nite n then we woke up at about 4 am for area cleaning, 5 BX, running n breakfast.
Dis was continuous for five days for a period of about 2-3 months in d run-up to ROC training.

I believe d logic behind d change is trainees n soldiers shd be spending their limited time during NSF undergoing training instead of wasting dat time on area cleaning, change parades, polishing boots n ironing uniforms (which they hv also done away with).[/quote]Can the same logic apply for a parent who doesn't want his/her child to do housework but focus on studies so as to do well in it? Isn't this part of the training and discipline? But then again, if I were to go through what you guys have gone through, I would have said \"it is right to do away with the cleaning! \"