There’s a sobering article titled “Do S’porean workers deserve their wages?“ making its rounds on the internet, asking whether Singaporean workers deserved their wages.
I have also had my fair share of interviewing (and in one case, hiring) questionable local talent. After hiring my first “poor” staff, I learnt the importance of conducting proper interviews and requiring an on-the-spots skills test, so as to ensure that the same mistake does not happen again. Thankfully my team today has a good number of dedicated and hardworking Singaporeans that are always willing to learn.
The contentious article by ST Managing Editor Han Fook Kwang is probably on the receiving end of some scathing online criticism, especially from the cynics. But whether you agree with the article or not, I think most people do believe that something about Singapore needs to change if we want to improve Singapore (be it in the form of better wages and buying power, or a more sociable and responsible society).
If change is necessary, then we must be wary of those who deny that change also applies to themselves. You will know these people when you see them. They will blame their failures on anyone else but themselves. They will claim that they are faultless and entitled to better things. They will demand that the world changes to suit their own needs. They see themselves not as a contributing member to society, but as a customer whose needs must be served. They listen only to those who think like them, and refuse to contemplate the views of others. These people are the parasites of our society.
SGthinker
* Sgthinker is a 40-year old Singaporean male. He pens his thoughts and feelings about Singapore’s political happenings, government policies and societal trends in his blog. He hopes that his blog will provide a moderate voice in the growing online debate about the state of Singapore’s society. He blogs at http://sgthinker.wordpress.com.