Some years ago this guy came to me for advice on his career path. He was going to take up the job as a cleaner and he wanted to know if there was any prospect in this job. Yes I called it a job, not a profession and I could not really see any prospect in the job except to become a supervisor if the company was big enough. I had a bit of difficulty explaining to him about a dead end job or a job with dim prospect.
Today I could be more optimistic and could tell him to take up the cleaner job. The prospect is brighter. A new law will be introduced to pay cleaners a minimum salary of $1,000. Four figures you know. And the prospect of $1,600 as a supervisor. Cleaners will also be sent for training to improve their skills and probably higher salaries. There will be a career path for them.
From a HR point of view I would like to develop an organisational structure for the cleaner profession for the big companies. Organise them like the army with section leaders, platoon commanders etc etc. If big enough, can even have a cleaner general at the top of the pile.
Things are changing. Poly grads, interested in becoming cleaners? Just kidding. Poly grads prospects are even better. Could look forward to join the Admin Service or maybe become a politician and a MP or minister.
Chua Chin Leng AKA RedBean
*The writer blogs at http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.com/