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A Straits Times reader known as Nurwati suggested in the forum on 19th December 2006 that "it would be much more pleasant to live and work here if we went back to requiring English as the main language for all jobs".
What are your views on her statement?
What are your views on her statement?
Maybe a full article of the lette might be better for us to judge
also locale of shop is another consideration, example, a little india store would need tamil speaking employees and geylang serai bosses would want malay speaking helpers.
You can't hire a ONLY english speaking helper in chinatown and expect all the older generation aunties and uncles to know that you want to buy wolfberries to boil soup.
You can't hire a ONLY english speaking helper in chinatown and expect all the older generation aunties and uncles to know that you want to buy wolfberries to boil soup.
Here is the article produced from the Straits Times Forum (Dec 19, 2006) on page H6:
My last - part-time - job was as a call-centre agent. When I left and started looking for a full-time job through the newspaper and the Internet, I was both disappointed and frustrated. Besides requiring them to speak English, companies also require them to speak Mandarin. Even an American MNC required Mandarin-speaking staff.
There were times when I called up a company which did not state anything about language requirements. After telling a staff member about my qualifications, my hopes would be dashed when he/she asked if I could speak in Chinese.
However, I am also aware that there are certain jobs requiring other languages, such as Malay, Tamil or even Tagalog. My concern is, will the minorities in Singapore be able to survive in this job market?
If would be much more pleasant to live and work here if we went back to requiring English as the main language for all jobs.
Nurwati Ya'akop (Ms)
My last - part-time - job was as a call-centre agent. When I left and started looking for a full-time job through the newspaper and the Internet, I was both disappointed and frustrated. Besides requiring them to speak English, companies also require them to speak Mandarin. Even an American MNC required Mandarin-speaking staff.
There were times when I called up a company which did not state anything about language requirements. After telling a staff member about my qualifications, my hopes would be dashed when he/she asked if I could speak in Chinese.
However, I am also aware that there are certain jobs requiring other languages, such as Malay, Tamil or even Tagalog. My concern is, will the minorities in Singapore be able to survive in this job market?
If would be much more pleasant to live and work here if we went back to requiring English as the main language for all jobs.
Nurwati Ya'akop (Ms)
It's not the PRC nationals in SG, some of them come here in the hope to be able to learn to speak English then go to some English speaking countries..
Many businesses now need to deal with China.. BIG market and they are growing strong.. No choice.. Need to be able to converse in mandarin to get a slice of the pie.. If we don't buck up, we will be left out.. Even Taiwan is feeling the pinch!!
Many businesses now need to deal with China.. BIG market and they are growing strong.. No choice.. Need to be able to converse in mandarin to get a slice of the pie.. If we don't buck up, we will be left out.. Even Taiwan is feeling the pinch!!
it's simple actually... if u don't speak chinese, how are u going to communicate with some of the old folks who don't speak english? Most of the staff at my work place are Chinese aunties who are in their late 50s or early 60s. Alot of Singapore who are in their late 50s and 60s, who might only be able to speak their mother language. Just be thankful they did not say to be able to speak some form of dialect!
I like the Singaporean way of logic.
It usually goes in the same breath as:
We all know XXX..
But frequently :dunno: I don't know leh. Must be your intelligence a lot higher than me, because I don't know a lot of things.
Like mcn says: tell me! In any case, language requirements are only to be set by employers, not 80,000 other people. Every company knows its own requirements and if it does not have that requirement but sets it as such then in the long run it stands to lose out due to certain advantages lost to other companies. Simple as that. That is the beauty of a free market where YOU and YOU alone are responsible for your own actions. No need to second-guess any company or what. If they need it, then they need it. If they don't need it and insist that they need it then they are silly and will die in the long run and you won't have to worry about it after all!
Next time, go visit Batam and try to speak English and see all the funny smiles you get along with the shaking of heads. Very exasperating that all the locals there don't know how to speak English. Which is probably why their tourist industry is limited at the moment, I guess.
It usually goes in the same breath as:
We all know XXX..
But frequently :dunno: I don't know leh. Must be your intelligence a lot higher than me, because I don't know a lot of things.
Like mcn says: tell me! In any case, language requirements are only to be set by employers, not 80,000 other people. Every company knows its own requirements and if it does not have that requirement but sets it as such then in the long run it stands to lose out due to certain advantages lost to other companies. Simple as that. That is the beauty of a free market where YOU and YOU alone are responsible for your own actions. No need to second-guess any company or what. If they need it, then they need it. If they don't need it and insist that they need it then they are silly and will die in the long run and you won't have to worry about it after all!
Next time, go visit Batam and try to speak English and see all the funny smiles you get along with the shaking of heads. Very exasperating that all the locals there don't know how to speak English. Which is probably why their tourist industry is limited at the moment, I guess.
Exactly, It is one way of making sure that the majority of the applicants applying for the position of the race you seek. There is already overt discrimination against candidates over 40 - something the government is trying to rectify. So it isn't a stretch to figure out that covert racial discrimination is also occuring/has occurred - you cannot control/police this w/o strict rules/policies.
In other countries, some more multi-cultural as ours (i.e. whose citizens that are of many different races, religions and from different countries), the only language requirement is English (or the first language of that country) and there are anti-discrimination laws that protect against practices like these.
I've seen quite a number of positions where Mandarin is not necessary, yet the requirement is for the candidate to read, speak and write Chinese.
The ability to speak Mandarin is not an advantage when doing business in China as many an Sgrean expat in China has found. The requirement goes further than that - they also expect you to know their culture/beliefs - something many Sgreans who go there, are ignorant of.
Many Europeans, Indians, et al and their companies are successfully wheeling and dealing with the Chinese w/o having the ability to speak the language.
In other countries, some more multi-cultural as ours (i.e. whose citizens that are of many different races, religions and from different countries), the only language requirement is English (or the first language of that country) and there are anti-discrimination laws that protect against practices like these.
I've seen quite a number of positions where Mandarin is not necessary, yet the requirement is for the candidate to read, speak and write Chinese.
The ability to speak Mandarin is not an advantage when doing business in China as many an Sgrean expat in China has found. The requirement goes further than that - they also expect you to know their culture/beliefs - something many Sgreans who go there, are ignorant of.
Many Europeans, Indians, et al and their companies are successfully wheeling and dealing with the Chinese w/o having the ability to speak the language.
You say it like it's the truth. "There is overt discrimination against people over 40."
Discrimination is one thing, pragmatism is another. Young people accept lower pay, and possibly perform the same job as well. Of course companies do not want to hire people over 40 who might have been problematic (since they are jobless over the age of 40). You gotta see it from their shoes, thankyew.
Discrimination is one thing, pragmatism is another. Young people accept lower pay, and possibly perform the same job as well. Of course companies do not want to hire people over 40 who might have been problematic (since they are jobless over the age of 40). You gotta see it from their shoes, thankyew.
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