Pirapong See De Liang
Tue, Jun 03, 2008
The Sunday Times
Why front-line staff need to have knowledge of
English
I refer to the article, 'English test for foreign front-line staff?
Bosses say 'no'' (The Sunday Times, May 25), on the need to impose
some kind of English test for service staff. I believe it is
necessary.
The authorities should consider having a regulation to ensure
that foreign front-line staff in Singapore have a basic command of
English.
This is more than just a business issue, and far from a minor
one. Singapore is a multiracial country and our official working
language has always been English. So why is this policy not being
practised in the service industry?
Employers who hire workers who cannot speak basic English are
indirectly discriminating against the non-Chinese minority
here.
One can recall the countless times when Chinese Singaporeans
have to act as translators for their non-Chinese friends at
foodcourts when dealing with foreign service staff.
It is unacceptable that my fellow Singaporeans should be made to
feel like tourists in their own country, just because some foreign
service staff member cannot speak or understand basic English.
We cannot give the impression that since Singapore has a Chinese
majority and many here speak Mandarin, that it is therefore all
right for foreigners coming to work in the service sector here to
take the easy way out by not bothering to attain a certain level of
proficiency in English.
Singapore has come a long way in embracing diversity and
promoting racial harmony. The Government has implemented several
policies aimed at integrating the population, one of which is the
bilingual policy in our education system.
If our young are subject to such a policy - where learning
English is compulsory - why should foreign workers, especially in
the service line, be treated differently?
This issue is not about being xenophobic or narrow-minded - we
are not saying 'no' to foreign workers. Rather, we are saying
English is the official working language in Singapore and this must
apply to the service line.
Even from a business point of view, having an employee who
cannot communicate effectively with customers would create
unhappiness and eventually drive people away.
I believe the cost of hiring English-speaking staff would be
lower than the cost of losing one's customers.
We took pains to establish English as a universal working
language in our country and to help integrate the different races.
Let's not undo this now.