Wait… where’s the service staff?

The staff crunch at eateries is so bad that restaurateurs have had to cut back their operating hours

By Rebecca Lynne Tan, The Straits Times, 10 Jul 2011

Do not be surprised the next time you go into your favourite restaurant and see its owner clearing tables.

Restaurateurs here are facing such severe service staff crunches that some are having to double as runners, delivering food to tables and helping to clear them.

Some have also had to limit operating hours or close off seating sections to cope with the manpower shortage.

When LifeStyle visited newly opened bistro-restaurant The Dempsey Brasserie in Dempsey Hill two weeks ago, the owners were seen pouring drinks behind the bar counter and clearing tables.

Opening hours have been cut too – it is open only for dinner on weeknights, but all day on weekends.

Says the restaurant’s co-owner Terence Tan, 40: ‘I can’t even begin to open for breakfast or lunch on weekdays – we just don’t have the capacity to, in spite of having advertised for staff.’

Over at two-week-old eatery Wild Oats at Punggol Park, its chef-owner Willin Low, 39, had to enlist the help of five friends last weekend to clear tables and serve food. The group, which included bankers and marketing managers, worked an average of five hours each night over Saturday, Sunday and Monday night.

Chef Low says: ‘We probably need about 15 service staff to run our Punggol Park outlet smoothly, but that weekend, we had only eight wait staff.’

He adds that he had to close a third of the 300-seater restaurant because of his staff shortage.

F&B players blame it on the tight labour market.

Lee Kuan Yew on foreign talent in Singapore: South Asian Diaspora Convention 2011

‘Singapore can’t punch above its own weight if it depends on local talent’
By S Ramesh, TODAY, 23 Jul 2011

Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said yesterday Singapore would not be able to punch above its own weight if it were to depend on talent from its own population. He was speaking at a dialogue to wrap up the two-day South Asian Diaspora convention here.

DBS Bank CEO Piyush Gupta posed a question to Mr Lee, asking just how big the issue of attracting foreign talent in Singapore is, having noted that it was a hot topic during the recent General Election.



Mr Lee felt it was an issue among Singaporeans even before the election. He said: “For some time, the Singaporean has felt the competition from talented foreigners. But these are people who have come here to become our citizens and I am a firm believer that the more talent that you have in a society, the better the society will grow.

“If Singapore depends on the talent it can produce out of 3 million people, it’s not going to punch above its weight.

“It’s because we have been drawing talent from across the globe — South Asia, North-east Asia, China, India and beyond that — you have a vibrant economy which is way beyond what 3 million Singaporeans with the talent they can produce can do.

“So you’ve got to accept the discomfort which the local citizens feel, that they are competing unequally for jobs. (It) cannot be helped.

“But without them, the jobs will not be there to begin with. So welcome talent and we’ll continue to welcome talent.”



When asked how the political problem associated with the foreign talent issue could be managed, Mr Lee said: “You just have to assuage it.

“What is the choice — slow growth with no input of talent or faster growth with input of talent and the feeling that some of the top jobs are going to the foreigners? You may get no jobs at all if there were no growth.”

Too full of oneself

Delusional Singaporeans have a long way to go.....

Singaporeans 'could be more gracious'

by Carolyn Quek, TODAY, 5 Jul 2011

Singaporeans think themselves kinder and more gracious than their fellow citizens, according to the latest poll conducted by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM).

The findings, in the words of SKM general manager William Wan, indicate "an unhealthy level of self-centredness and self-absorption" among Singaporeans.

The SKM was set up in 1997 to make the nation a kinder place and the findings of its third State of Graciousness survey, released yesterday, revealed that more than 40 per cent of the 1,404 respondents thought they were gracious, but only 15 per cent felt the same of others.

Almost nine in 10 felt they had performed a kind deed in the past six months. In contrast, half felt they had been the beneficiary of another's kindness.

Describing the "big perception gap" as surprising, Dr Wan added that the poll also showed that Singaporeans are "not being aware of and not appreciating the efforts of others".

Another surprise for the movement: Foreigners had a better impression of the Republic as a gracious society than Singaporeans did.

Fit to Post but comments Hard to Stomach

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/dr-tony-tan-favourite-president-role-042325792.html

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/narrowing-racial-divide-pore-due-foreign-threat-032651925.html

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/affluent-pore-residents-verbally-abused-govt-staff-040055813.html

Reading the comments you'll think social order has completely broken down and Singapore is next after the Arab Spring.

You have to accept the fact

Describing Presidential hopeful Tony Tan as an "eminently" suitable candidate, incumbent President S R Nathan urged Singaporeans to remember - when they vote for their Elected President - how the country arrived at where it is today. 

Speaking on the sidelines of a book launch yesterday, Mr Nathan reiterated that voters have to understand what is in the best interest of the Republic. 

Said Mr Nathan, who will decide within the next fortnight whether to seek another term: "One of the things you must remember is that with all these gripes that you hear, people forget how we have arrived to this stage in our country."

He added: "Could it have been done without the Government? That's my question. Much has been achieved. There are probably faults that have to be remedied, but we just can't distance ourselves from the Government."

My two cents is that high ministerial salaries should stay

I was curious to read what CEOs had to say about the Ministerial Salary Review (Finding the right balance, Business Times – 30 May 11) but alas, much like feedback from the common man, not a single mention was made of the personal sacrifices the job demands.

Everyone assumes Ministers are missile grade androids who do not sleep and have no need for love and companionship.  With the newfound need to maintain an effective social media presence, has anyone spared a thought for their mental, emotional and physical health?  Top Bankers, Lawyers and Accountants can pick and choose while most of us are able to enjoy a five-day workweek. Ministers are no less human and deserve the high compensation in lieu of the precious lost family time.  I do wonder if PM Lee has truly had a day off with the family since he took office.

The salary review committee should follow the Ministers 24/7 to understand the daily demands and personal effort expended by them.  What time do they wake up? Are they checking emails/sms when they should have breakfast with the family?  Do they attend meetings every day or all day?  When do they meet constituents or reply to emails?  What time do they return home to eat with the family and do they still check emails late into the night?  Do they get quality time with their family and friends?

As it is, the present ministerial salaries is about 70 per cent of the benchmark – it has never reached 100 per cent, thus Ministers have never been fully compensated since the benchmark (two-thirds of median incomes) was introduced.

72,289 Singaporeans will live and regret that George Yeo will not be President

So George, as expected, decided not to run for President this August, but maybe 5 Augusts from now, there could be redemption for the people who gave him that choice to make in the first place.

Everybody wants a flat in a convenient location...

I was appalled to read Gladys Chung’s reflections on housing for first time couples looking for their first homes (We want a flat in a convenient location…The Sunday Times, 12 Jun -see article below). She lamented that she and her fiancé were not able to secure a Build-to-Order (BTO) flat in a mature estate and would not try again unless it was in areas they favour.

She dismisses the higher chances of snarling a more affordable flat in an outlying estate as she sees little value in buying a home for a lower price but end up spending more on transport. The couple even contemplated moving overseas, do they realize the costs of housing in vibrant cities such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, London or New York, one would struggle just to pay the rent while buying property is out of the question for most people.

Her suggestion on allowing first-time home owners to rent out the whole flat without having to wait out the 5 years minimum occupation period (MOP) in order that her finance and herself can use the rental income to eventually buy another home near their parents is ridiculous and clearly contrary to the idea that HDB flats are for owner-occupation and not meant for speculation and profit. Too many first-time couples have this notion of buying a new HDB flat without ever wanting to make it their home, they invariably contribute to the current demand and potential housing glut.

While everybody wants a home in a convenient location, it is virtually impossible in land scarce Singapore and who is to say that ulu locations such as Sengkang or Punggol would not be bustling estates in future.

However, I do agree with her other suggestion on sacrificing some Government land parcels in mature estates for BTO flats instead of selling to private developers. The Government must learn to lose and give in sometimes instead of being kiasu and always going after the best deal.

Gladys, is sadly part of a generation that demands (not wants) instant gratification while showing little determination to succeed. If they don't get what they want, they threaten to leave Singapore instead, former Minister Mah Bow Tan can, at last, afford a smile after reading this self-serving article.

Words of Wisdom

Some people are only happy when they're complaining. Create a cure for cancer, and people will be barely be finished congratulating you before they're inquiring about one for the common cold. Everyone knows a parent who will look over their child's report, see nine A*s and just focus on the B in P.E. This is the 'Yeah, but ...' generation. Give the people what they want, and invariably they'll want more.

Jacob Steinberg, guardian.co.uk

Why You Should Always Do Your Homework

OR have egg on your face.

Former senior minister S Jayakumar spoke to the media after the launch of his book "Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience", Prof Jayakumar said he was "surprised and disappointed at statements made by some potential candidates on what they would do if elected as the next president".

Prof Jayakumar was involved in drafting the White Papers and constitutional amendments on the Elected Presidency when he was the law minister in the 1980s.

He said some candidates seem to imply that the president is a separate centre of power, distinct from the government and that he has certain executive powers. Prof Jayakumar said this is not the case.

He said: "The president does have some discretionary custodial powers in a few areas, mainly the protection of reserves and key appointments."

He also has some custodial powers over detentions under the Internal Security Act, Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) investigations and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony restraining orders, said Prof Jayakumar.

He added: "But even in those few areas, the president has no power to initiate decisions or policy. He only has blocking powers. 

"Other than those specified areas, in all other areas, the president under the Constitution must act on the advice of the Cabinet. That is the clear legal position." 

Prof Jayakumar said it would be good if Singaporeans, especially candidates, are clear about the role of the president - what he can do and what he cannot do. "Otherwise, there may be wrong expectations about the role of the president, and we should avoid that," he added.

Prof Jayakumar’s comments on the role of the elected president also echoed the argument made by President SR Nathan.

Speaking at the end of his state visit in Mauritius on Tuesday, Mr Nathan reminded those who wish to see a more aggressive President as a check on the government that the role is one circumscribed by the Constitution.

When asked about the comparisons of his tenure with that of his predecessor, the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong who had disagreements with the PAP government over the presidential powers, he said, “I know the limitations of the Constitution and what you have to do. I am not there in a boxing match.”

72,289 minus 3 Singaporeans want George Yeo to be President

or is it just minus 1, read below article in The Straits Times today, 10 Jun 2011

Post on George Yeo 'a fake'

Ex-teacher says she's victim of impersonation

RETIRED teacher Joan Fong, daughter of the late finance minister Hon Sui Sen, believes she was a victim of cyberspace impersonation, with an Internet post in her name attacking her former student George Yeo.

Mrs Fong, 68, told The Straits Times yesterday she was not behind a post found on the socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC), which questioned the former foreign minister’s sincerity in running for the elected presidency.

Mrs Fong said: ‘I am furious. George Yeo was my student. I remember him as a brilliant boy. Why would I say these things of him?

‘Maybe some people critical of George Yeo found out that I know him and wanted to use me to attack him and to sway the public with falsehoods about him.’

Mrs Fong said she taught general paper and physics during Mr Yeo’s pre-university years (1971-1972) at St Joseph’s Institution.

She later taught at Raffles Junior College until she retired in 2003.

Now a writer of school textbooks, Mrs Fong said she learnt about the alleged impersonation last weekend when a friend sent her an e-mail that referred to three Internet posts, penned under the names of Jenny Hu, Jane Ho and Joan Hon.

Joan Hon is Mrs Fong’s maiden name.

All were critical of Mr Yeo, 56, and questioned if he would be suitable as president.

The post penned in her name read: ‘I am a Christian, and I don’t believe George Yeo is sincere. If he is, then he would just pray but not (sic) telling the whole world about it.’

The post noted how Mr Yeo had said, a few days after being voted out of his Aljunied GRC seat during the May 7 polls, that he did not think he was ‘temperamentally suited’ for the presidency as he considered himself ‘a free spirit’.

On June 1, Mr Yeo said in a Facebook post that he was mulling over whether to run, after receiving numerous requests from people to reconsider, and was ‘thinking hard about it and praying for wisdom’.

His supporters collected application forms for an eligibility certificate for him on Monday, shortly before he flew off to Taiwan. Mr Yeo said in another Facebook post that day that he hoped to make a decision in two weeks.

He has declined all media interviews on this matter.

President Nathan in Top Form

President S R Nathan says he has not decided if he will run for a third term in office, adding that age is a factor.

President Nathan, 87, was speaking to Singapore media at the end of his state visit to Mauritius on Tuesday.

Potential candidates have stepped up to the plate in the contest for the presidency.

But the President himself is in no hurry.

Mr Nathan said: "When I decide, I will tell you."

But age will be one factor for Mr Nathan, who will be 87 years old on July 3.

He said: "People say ’this old man, what the hell is he still there, wanting to do it?’ Some others think I’m doing nothing, so it’s a waste of time for them to think of me.

"But all this noise will always be there in the world. You have a sense of what you want to do and you just do it because if you listen to the world, your work will never be done."

I say what the hell are you waiting for, just run Sir!!