Tray return initiative faces resistance

Clivebenss SG

By Winifred Wong | Yahoo! Newsroom – 1 hour 51 minutes ago

The tray return initiative started by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in March this year has met some resistance.

A Facebook page named “Say NO to Tray Return Singapore” was set up on 19 May this year and has garnered close to 300 likes.

According to the “About” section of the Facebook page, tray return “robs patrons of service” and “only benefits for (sic) operators”.

One of the reasons cited against the initiative is that cleaners will lose their jobs.

Asked by Yahoo! Singapore whether it is a reflection of social graciousness that patrons are clearing their own trays, one of the organisers of the Facebook page responded that they feel it is more socially gracious for cleaners to clear the trays, and in doing so provide better service to patrons.

“If customers are expected to do everything, there must be a price benefit for them, since they are made to serve themselves throughout,” said Roland Yuen, spokesperson of the movement.

The latest post on the page is a call to action for supporters of the “Say NO to Tray Return” movement to post “creative” videos that are “witty” and “funny”. Selected submissions will win vouchers, it said.

The organisers have received 3 videos to date, including a rap video. The videos will be posted on the Facebook page late next month.

The page was set up on the same day NEA announced that 17 major food vendors had joined the tray return initiative, which includes a commitment from outlets to set aside counters to which patrons can return trays.

These vendors include food court operators like Kopitiam and Koufu, and fast-food outlets like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Burger King.

NEA hopes that the movement will encourage patrons to return their trays as an act of social graciousness.

The NEA also believes that the movement will help cleaners increase their efficiency, emphasising that the initiative would not affect the job security of cleaners.

Deacon Blue SG

i return my tray here, later i step out of the foodcourt i spit.

so can help with imrpvoing graciousness meh?

cleaners will be out of job. pls give our older people who are difficult to find jobs some jobs to do please!

SJS6638 SG

We shall observe if the PAP ministers return trays when they have the chance to eat in food centres and food courts.

If they don't, stomp it to tell.

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

Pffft, wat has manners and social grace gotta do with cleaners out of job...

If they are saying that putting trays ourselves means the cleaners will be out of job, then must we go around litter/dirty the place more so that they will hire more cleaners?

Must we go ard to do more crime instead of no crime so that police will not go out of job?

Must we go ard putting up fires instead of preventing fires so that fireman will not go out of job?

As for "robbing patron of service", you dun even pay service charge in food courts -___- service is provided is out for competition for the food courts...

Between 2 food court of the same price, would u prefer to go to one which is dirty, or one which is clean?

the above points proved that service has to be provided out of competition between food courts. whether u ownself clear tray or not, service will still be provided to attract customers...

Clivebenss SG

Pffft, wat has manners and social grace gotta do with cleaners out of job...

If they are saying that putting trays ourselves means the cleaners will be out of job, then must we go around litter/dirty the place more so that they will hire more cleaners?

Must we go ard to do more crime instead of no crime so that police will not go out of job?

Must we go ard putting up fires instead of preventing fires so that fireman will not go out of job?

As for "robbing patron of service", you dun even pay service charge in food courts -___- service is provided is out for competition for the food courts...

Between 2 food court of the same price, would u prefer to go to one which is dirty, or one which is clean?

the above points proved that service has to be provided out of competition between food courts. whether u ownself clear tray or not, service will still be provided to attract customers...

char no more wipes table; now makes reports.

Obersturmfuhrer SG

People trying to justify their laziness and lack of civic upbringing on "providing jobs" for cleaners? Do they even realise that they are contributing to these old folks being exploited as cheap labour?

PJ_Quek SG

We shall observe if the PAP ministers return trays when they have the chance to eat in food centres and food courts.

If they don't, stomp it to tell.

listen to you? where got time? haha.

Deacon Blue SG

Nazi pig's old folks can choose not to work as cleaner. or can choose not to work. for thos older folks who need the work, please dont take it away form him.

teach people to return tray. then ask them volunteriliy return the tray, not force it on them.

like my flat the cheena pigs, why they make so much noise with concrete evidences given HDB dont take action, dont enforce? because they want them pigs and swine to volunterrily stop making noises?!

charlize SG

10, 20 years ago, did so many old people need to work as cleaners in the first place?

Look deeper into the root of the problem.

This clearing of trays initiative is not as simple as it looks.

charlize SG

We shall observe if the PAP ministers return trays when they have the chance to eat in food centres and food courts.

If they don't, stomp it to tell.

How many times you see them eating at food courts and hawker centres?

SJS6638 SG

listen to you? where got time? haha.

Don't be silly to jump to misunderstand. I did not post to tell them to listen to me.

SJS6638 SG

How many times you see them eating at food courts and hawker centres?

Have la. That was how i approached the MP and tested him. Later, I bombarded him after he replied me. hhahahahahah.

For wayang, they will eat at these public places.

SJS6638 SG

Pffft, wat has manners and social grace gotta do with cleaners out of job...

If they are saying that putting trays ourselves means the cleaners will be out of job, then must we go around litter/dirty the place more so that they will hire more cleaners?

Must we go ard to do more crime instead of no crime so that police will not go out of job?

Must we go ard putting up fires instead of preventing fires so that fireman will not go out of job?

As for "robbing patron of service", you dun even pay service charge in food courts -___- service is provided is out for competition for the food courts...

Between 2 food court of the same price, would u prefer to go to one which is dirty, or one which is clean?

the above points proved that service has to be provided out of competition between food courts. whether u ownself clear tray or not, service will still be provided to attract customers...

the topic is not about service will still be provided to attract customers.

charlize SG

Deacon Blue SG

excuse like that is graceouneous arh?!

you force people to to return tray how about those people who eat like a pig one how they make so many left over food on the table tell them aslo clean up lah!

so conjetsed everytime eat during lunch break no seats!

the Bear SG

there is no way to talk about this situation without coming up looking like a douchebag for every side of this situation...

i overheard a hawker's assistant on the day they launched this at West Coast market and he said that it is a fiasco because the stalls are now charged higher fees for the "clearing up" while there are fewer cleaners to clear things up.. those who were left were given a hundred or so dollars more but they have to do double duty of cleaning up the people who don't return their trays and man the tray return kiosks...

the other cleaners who "didn't make the cut" were let go...

those who support this movement are seen as assholes who are trying to snatch the measly rice bowls from the cleaners; those who don't are seen as entitled and spoilt brats who cannot clean after themselves..

those who came up with this movement are vilified as heartless assholes who are after increased profits (because there seems to be profit to be made by cutting headcount, giving those left behind slight increases in pay and making them work double duty) and those who are against this movement are seen as disgraceful and selfish bastards...

in the end, the cleaners who are working harder than ever now are still not paid a fair wage, the hawkers are paying more in fees, the tables are a mess, the people on both sides are unhappy and are portrayed as douchebags...

i guess the only person who wins is the cleaning contractor who is laughing all the way to the bank...

charlize SG

I read in other forums - someone mentioned they are trying to divert cleaners to the higher class restaurants and hotels because of the shortage of manpower.

Restaurants and hotels definitely more important than hawker centres and food courts.

the Bear SG

I read in other forums - someone mentioned they are trying to divert cleaners to the higher class restaurants and hotels because of the shortage of manpower.

Restaurants and hotels definitely more important than hawker centres and food courts.

yup.. especially those which sell $10 XO chye tow kueh

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

yup.. especially those which sell $10 XO chye tow kueh

I heard chye tow usually like $10 XO chye tow kueh... wat to do? carrot head likes to be chopped...

Heng i not chye tow

charlize SG

Will you get stopped by the TP if you eat (xoctk) and drive?