SG Career Search

SINGAPOREANS, it seems, will not stand for working on their feet.

The food-and-beverage, retail and service industries are still hiring, but many companies in these sectors report a lack of interest among Singaporeans.

Instead, it is the foreigners who are lapping up these jobs.

The Straits Times spoke to 12 fast-food chains, cafes and restaurants and another one dozen retail and service outlets, all of whom were keen on hiring Singaporeans. Among them, they have more than 740 jobs for the taking.

But the problem with these jobs - at least to Singaporeans - is that they come with long hours and a lot of standing during the shift. They also involve working nights, weekends and public holidays.

What these job hunters want: Office jobs and regular hours.

Repeated calls have gone out to Singaporeans to be less picky at a time when layoffs are starting to kick in, but there is a mental block against such jobs.

All but one of the 12 food outlets say they are finding it tough to get Singaporeans to take on service or kitchen positions. Among the retail and service outlets, eight said residents here baulk at front-line positions.

At Pine Garden's Cake, more than nine in 10 applications for positions come from foreigners.

The bakery's business development director Wei Chan, who managed to fill a vacancy for a sales and marketing manager only after four months, said that he has had Singaporeans who quit after having worked only one day.

At P.S. I Love You Nature Bakery, about half the 100 inquiries about its openings for eight kitchen crew and service positions are from foreigners.

Retail fashion chain 77th Street is hiring eight employees for its two new stores. Its marketing manager Mike Chin has had applicants asking to work only Mondays to Fridays. 'They set the terms and conditions, rather than us.'

Ms Carol Sai, manager of Kousei Foot Reflexology who is looking for a receptionist and foot reflexologists for a new outlet in Choa Chu Kang, said Singaporeans think of the vacancies as blue-collar ones and 'want high paying positions'.

Mr Raphael Chan, country director for sandwich chain Subway, agreed. He said Singaporeans perceive service positions as 'transition work or temporary school-holiday jobs'.

But if Singaporeans are not biting, it does not mean employers can blithely hire foreigners in their place.

The law permits only a certain number of foreigners in proportion to the number of Singaporeans employed.

Mr Chen Rong Hua, who manages two coffee shops in the east, said he has to hire three Singaporeans before he can take on one Malaysian.

The Manpower Ministry comes down hard on employers who inflate their local staff numbers to hire foreigner. Offenders may be fined up to $15,000, jailed up to one year or both on each charge.

Hiring Singaporeans is preferred, said Ms Constance Teoh, vice-president of operations for lifestyle apparel brand OP, as they speak better English and adapt to the work environment sooner.

But employers do appreciate one thing about foreigners: They are usually ready to work hard.

Ms Cindy Ee, director of PINC Nails, said: 'They rarely go on leave or take sick leave. They are more willing to stay late.'

By Leow Si Wan