I REFER to last Saturday's report ("Changes for firms"), which
quoted Mr Ivan Lee, founder of restaurant chain Thai Express, as
saying that the rise in foreign worker levy would be passed on to
consumers most of the time, which is why prices of food and
services continue to go up.
His remark seems to imply that the Government can introduce any
manner of levies and all businessmen need to do is pass on the cost
to customers. Any rise in the prices of food and services can,
therefore, be attributed to the Government.
His comment reveals an unacceptable attitude by businesses
towards customers and suggests an indifference to the spirit and
objective of the foreign worker levy.
From a customer's viewpoint, such a remark, especially coming
from the boss himself, is wrong. I, for one, shall not be
patronising his restaurants.
Gan Teck Lee
I REFER to Gan Teck Lee's reponse to last Saturday's report
("Change for firms"), which quoted Mr Ivan Lee, founder of
restaurant chain Thai Express, as saying that the rise in foreign
worker levy would be passed on to consumers most of the time, which
is why prices of food and services continue to go up.
From a forumite's viewpoint, such a remark, especially coming
from a consumer himself, is a waste of newspaper space and shows
poor quality response in the local paper as people are just arguing
rather than offering suggestions to improve economic and social
problems foreign workers bring to Singapore. It exhibits Mr Gan's
lack of understanding and pitiful ego over a trivial comment.
As a Singaporean myself, the levy's aim is not to increase the
damage, but to improve a local Singaporean's competitiveness again
foreign workers in the food and service industry. Most food and
service industry are facing shortage of staff, and due to that, a
rising levy will mean that most employers resort to passing the
buck to the end consumers.
In this competitive market, we have to relook at the
Government's strategy. A good start for the Government is to
introduce more "benefits" to hiring locals instead of increasing
levy. Levy will only do what Mr Ivan Lee suggested, increase cost
of living.
(i am too bored.)