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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Employing PRCs: Mark Lee defends himself</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
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February 8, 2010 by admin
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http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/02/08/mark-lee-defends-himself-for-employing-prc-workers-difficult-to-employ-locals/
Written by Our Correspondent
Under-fired Singapore comedian Mark Lee, who was lambasted by netizens lately for employing too many PRC workers at his coffeeshop chain Old Town White Coffee said he is very keen to employ Singaporeans, but it is not easy to do so.
In an interview with Shin Min Daily, he said:
“We cannot employ as many foreign workers as we like because there is a quota for local workers to be fulfilled….Local F&B bosses willunderstand how hard it is to employ Singapore workers.”
Mark Lee was quoted as saying on Chinese online portal xin.sg 2 weeks ago that he has so many PRC workers on his payroll that he is contemplating buying a cash-counting machine to count their salaries as they prefer to receive in cash.
After Temasek Review broke the story, angry netizens threatened to boycott Old Town White Coffee for employing too many foreign workers to cut costs at the expense of Singaporeans.
Mark Lee also offered an explanation on why Singaporeans shun jobs offered by his company:
“As the working hours are long and they need to work in shifts including during the weekends, many Singaporeans are unwilling to take up these positions.”
His argument is often used by PAP leaders to defend their liberal immigration policies, leading to Singapore being swarmed by cheap and unskilled foreign workers in recent years which depress the wages of ordinary Singapore workers, especially those from the lower income group.
Foreigners not only make up one third of Singapore’s workforce, but 36 per cent of its resident population as well.
Stung by fast rising frustration, resentment and anger among Singaporeans, PAP leaders led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had been trying to appease them by promising to slow down the inflow of foreigners.
Their change in stance is however contradicted by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who said recently that there will be no “turnaround” in the government’s policy on foreign workers and that their numbers may actually increase in the next few years.
F&B businesses have thrived in Singapore for years before the floodgates are opened to foreign workers. Some coffeeshop chains like the Ya Kun Coffeeshop employ mostly locals.
Mark Lee should have explored other options of making his job offers more attractive to Singaporeans first before pinning the blame on them for being “choosy” as the PAP is wont to do.
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February 8, 2010 by admin
Filed under Headlines
Leave a comment
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/02/08/mark-lee-defends-himself-for-employing-prc-workers-difficult-to-employ-locals/
Written by Our Correspondent
Under-fired Singapore comedian Mark Lee, who was lambasted by netizens lately for employing too many PRC workers at his coffeeshop chain Old Town White Coffee said he is very keen to employ Singaporeans, but it is not easy to do so.
In an interview with Shin Min Daily, he said:
“We cannot employ as many foreign workers as we like because there is a quota for local workers to be fulfilled….Local F&B bosses willunderstand how hard it is to employ Singapore workers.”
Mark Lee was quoted as saying on Chinese online portal xin.sg 2 weeks ago that he has so many PRC workers on his payroll that he is contemplating buying a cash-counting machine to count their salaries as they prefer to receive in cash.
After Temasek Review broke the story, angry netizens threatened to boycott Old Town White Coffee for employing too many foreign workers to cut costs at the expense of Singaporeans.
Mark Lee also offered an explanation on why Singaporeans shun jobs offered by his company:
“As the working hours are long and they need to work in shifts including during the weekends, many Singaporeans are unwilling to take up these positions.”
His argument is often used by PAP leaders to defend their liberal immigration policies, leading to Singapore being swarmed by cheap and unskilled foreign workers in recent years which depress the wages of ordinary Singapore workers, especially those from the lower income group.
Foreigners not only make up one third of Singapore’s workforce, but 36 per cent of its resident population as well.
Stung by fast rising frustration, resentment and anger among Singaporeans, PAP leaders led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had been trying to appease them by promising to slow down the inflow of foreigners.
Their change in stance is however contradicted by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who said recently that there will be no “turnaround” in the government’s policy on foreign workers and that their numbers may actually increase in the next few years.
F&B businesses have thrived in Singapore for years before the floodgates are opened to foreign workers. Some coffeeshop chains like the Ya Kun Coffeeshop employ mostly locals.
Mark Lee should have explored other options of making his job offers more attractive to Singaporeans first before pinning the blame on them for being “choosy” as the PAP is wont to do.
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what you mean by 'company not current and efficient enough'
