Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
Down with racist employers
A good Malay friend of mine wrote on her blog about meeting a racist employer. The circumstances of what happened are as follows:
My lecturer recommended me for an internship position at an advertising firm. It’s a pretty well-known firm – it’s got a worldwide presence. In Singapore, well, let’s just say that its office is located at Clarke Quay. So yesterday she sent an e-mail to notify me to send my resume over to the guy from the firm. Which I did immediately.
This morning, I went to see my lecturer as I had a question about Social Change, the module I take that she’s teaching. After answering my question, she turned all grim and said she had some news for me. She told me the guy from the ad firm called her, saying he did not want to hire me because I am Malay. And those are the exact words that my lecturer quoted. Apparently, he had had bad experiences working with Malays in the past.
My blood boiled after knowing about the incident. What the hell is wrong with these people? Are Malays less of a human than other races? It’s not like my friend is a nitwit or moron. She’s smart, articulate and writes well. I wager to my last dollar that she’s probably better than 80% of the people in her age group (of any race), so why is this bloody firm denying her a chance to work just because she’s MALAY?
I wish I can expose the name of this company, but I’ve been requested not to reveal the name. To think that it’s an international firm with a worldwide presence. Such a complete shame. I’m never going to recommend anyone to work in that company ever. Who knows who they are going to discriminate against next?
| Print article | This entry was posted by Aaron Ng on 12/04/2007 at 1:37 am, and is filed under Ramblings. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 5 years ago
Thanks Aaron for highlighting this, and my heart goes out to this application for the job. Any workplace racial discrimination is very unfortunate because that is racism that has a real impact. I hope to believe that most Singaporeans are not racist in that way even if they might make racist jokes.
Any thoughts on how this should be stopped? Highlighting this is very powerful but it will also drive it ‘internally’ so racism is still perpetuated but unseen.
about 5 years ago
Is there any Tribunal, similar to the Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents, which looks into such cases? Or is this under the sole purview of the MOM?
about 5 years ago
Serendipity:
Unless one has been living under a rock or has never spoken to friends from other ethnic groups (there is one human race but many ethnic groups – trust you people to mix that up), this is nothing new. Have you checked the Recruitment pages recently? Have you observed anything from it?
“Any thoughts on how this should be stopped? Highlighting this is very powerful but it will also drive it ‘internally’ so racism is still perpetuated but unseen.”
I am heartened by this statement of yours. However, for Aaron, he simply highlighted the problem (this is me putting it diplomatically instead of using the following words — “moan”, “groan” and “whine”) without even an attempt to do something about it (let alone provide something of worth for further discussion).
Unfortunately, this form of discrimination exists everywhere and is largely unavoidable. Even if the employer does not admit it, somewhere along the employment process discrimination could have been practised subconsciously. You can highlight this to the authorities but other than a slap on the wrist, there isn’t much they can do about it because it is already a sensitive area and that the job situation is dictated by market forces. Perhaps one should examine the path towards raising awareness to reduce the discrimination in the long term.
about 5 years ago
Hi,
My comments will cause raised eyebrows, which is why I choose to remain anonymous. Please let me state clearly from the outset that I have nothing against Malays. I have some very good Malay friends.
But, as an employer, I have worked with many Malays, and have found many of their work ethic wanting. Most are lazy, and some are quite political.
This is not racial. It is just a cultural upbringing which cuase them to be so, and I have shared this openly with some of my very good Malay friends and 2 Malay colleagues (who buck the trend). They agree.
Presented with a choice, I will rather hire Indian or Chinese employees. At the end of the day, I have a bottom line to meet, and shareholders to answer to.
about 5 years ago
there’s always discrimination in job applications.
what about foreign talents being favoured over locals in certain high paying jobs? or people with an overseas degree being favoured over people with a local degree?
about 5 years ago
neutral bystander:
Are the locals waiting for jobs to be handed to them on a silver platter (with a cherry on top)? When China becomes truly a world economic power in a few years’ time, are the locals going to whine to the Government again about being discriminated? Oh wait…
about 5 years ago
Serendipity,
Contrary to the nonsense that IrCTP is spouting, I happen to know some people in Singapore Human Resource Institute and I’ll be talking to them after I’ve finished my assignments for the semester to see if they can assist in any way regarding discrimination in hiring. I also mentioned to my friend about a movement against racist employers, but that has yet to come to fruition as yet because we’re still busy. Will keep you posted of developments.
about 5 years ago
Anonymous,
I can understand that there are perhaps Malays who are lazy and it’s unfortunate that you have had some bad experiences. I’m not an ungenerous person.
However, I still think that doesn’t warrant a blanket treatment. I would suggest to you that you hire them on contract basis or give a longer probation period. Those who are lazy are unlikely to last. This hopefully is a nice middle ground for you to hire smart and hardworking Malays while weeding out those who are not. The same can also be applied for anyone else, not just Malays.
about 5 years ago
Neutral bystander,
That’s why we have to keep trying to do something about it. Even if it’s just awareness, we got to keep trying. We should not, just because talk is cheap, shut up about the matter as some people would suggest. Discrimination will always be there, and we’ll always have to fight against it.
about 5 years ago
Why do I get the feeling that the infamous whybegay is back to troll me again? Perhaps it’s a relative. Same symptoms: personal attacks, offering no viable alternatives and pot calling kettle black.
Ah well, I suppose we need people like this or else being a blogger is so boring. It’s interesting to watch people like them dig their own graves deeper and deeper.
about 5 years ago
Office in Clark Quay, only one that I know of: Saatchi Lab
about 5 years ago
Aaron:
“Contrary to the nonsense that IrCTP is spouting, I happen to know some people in Singapore Human Resource Institute and I’ll be talking to them after I’ve finished my assignments for the semester to see if they can assist in any way regarding discrimination in hiring.”
Good. A positive development, but…
“I would suggest to you that you hire them on contract basis or give a longer probation period. Those who are lazy are unlikely to last. This hopefully is a nice middle ground for you to hire smart and hardworking Malays while weeding out those who are not. The same can also be applied for anyone else, not just Malays.”
Unfortunately, this is a “back-to-square-one” suggestion. Basically, your solution is to put candidates on contract or extend their probation. If you haven’t qualified this with your last statement, I would have a field day doing some nitpicking.
about 5 years ago
Aaron:
“Why do I get the feeling that the infamous whybegay is back to troll me again?”
Was it you who said something about not going into conspiracy theories?
about 5 years ago
I would have a field day doing some nitpicking.
There’s a job for everyone in the world, no matter how lowly the job is.
about 5 years ago
outstanding. i don’t believe my eyes.
i think it’d be better not to know why your friend was rejected. the employer shouldn’t have explicitly mentioned his reasons, but at least he mentioned it. he personalised his experience and gave his reasons. it did step on many toes, but shouldn’t we, in a way, respect his phobia/bias?
you know, badhats do ruin the image of any community. it’ll then be up to the community to prove itself by playing the game created by the majority. look at the sexual minorities in singapore. look at some english-educated chinese folks who fail their chinese in the local education system and decide to leave singapore for places that match their talents. they too worked hard and some succeeded.
where ever or whoever we are, we’ll forever face some sort of discrimination and unfairness. it’s about standing up and working hard to fight it. you need not fight it actively. you can do it passively by getting on with life and grabbing the next best opportunity.
i mean, look at hdb flat dwellers. they are categorised by racial quotas when buying their flats. that won’t be fair to anyone of any race who happen to be an “excess”.
if i were your friend, i’d request to meet the employer for tea and tell him nicely what he has missed. no need for anger or revenge, because he has overlooked a capable person.
endnote: although i’m a chinese (raced) kid born and bred in singapore, i don’t identify myself as chinese and am always very reluctant to state my race. i long for the day when we are filling up those damn forms, the section of “race” is removed. the CMIO classification thing is an outdated, ill-placed, colonial piece of bull-crap that has no place for the development of 21st century singapore. racial diversity should exist outside the professional domain, because work is work. when you want to celebrate diversity or even be conscious of it, you can do it outside work.
our “social fabric” is about progressive integration and not rigid patriarchal/skin-colour segregation.
about 5 years ago
——————————————————
However, I still think that doesn’t warrant a blanket treatment. I would suggest to you that you hire them on contract basis or give a longer probation period. Those who are lazy are unlikely to last. This hopefully is a nice middle ground for you to hire smart and hardworking Malays while weeding out those who are not. The same can also be applied for anyone else, not just Malays.
———————————————-
Aaron, unfortunately, this doesn’t always work. I have tried doing this, for precisely the reasons you mentioned. What I found was that during the probation period, they always put on a facade. They become the model employee. Always early, leave late, always quick to ask you if there’s any work for them….
Once confirmed, they quickly change. I just had one tell me in the face that she doesn’t want to continue performing one of her duties anymore. It then becomes extremely difficult to remove them.
It isn’t always a black and white world Aaron. Like I said, I’d rather not hire a Malay. You’re still pretty sheltered while studying. Once you have graduated and started working yourself, look around, and you will discover many more things that will question the very principals you currently may hold dear to yourself.
about 5 years ago
Anonymous,
Alright, I suppose you are entitled to your own assessment because you have experienced things for yourself. Indeed I have not seen alot of the real world, and I might or might not change my views, but I do pray I’ll never be disillusioned with the principles I hold dear.
Thanks for sharing!
about 5 years ago
IrCTP:
of course not! because the locals know better that such a situation only happens for the elites? no?
would the citizens whine if their wages are not depressed, while government talents get a payrise, amidst a rise in GST?
unlike aaron, i am not going to dignify any non constructive comments with my response.
about 5 years ago
Hi,
Here are my thoughts after reading this post.
http://69tribe.com/2007/03/22/if-all-people-were-of-the-same-race-would-there-be-discrimination/
As this blogger pointed out, people don’t just discriminate based on race.
I think that discrimination, no matter how vile it is, is natural. People tend to form groups with others who are similar to them. However, I feel that only the ignorant would be racist. Sadly, that employer falls into that category.
What steps should someone take if he or she faces racial discrimination at her or his workplace? Firstly, he or she should inform the superior(s) of the employer, if any. If the big boss is the one who is being racist, would reporting the matter to the police work? While the govt. is very serious against racial disharmony, I really don’t know if laws to guard against such racist actions exist.
about 5 years ago
Hi Aaron,
While I understand the plight said young lady had when her resume was rejected, one must also see the other side of the coin.
Yes, we can agree that the person who rejected her was racist, but on the other hand, we also need to look at the people of said race who perpetuate the myth that causes their fellows to be blacklisted.
If her compatriots did not give her race such a bad name, would the hirer have such a bad impression?
Don’t just blame the biasness of the hirer. Blame the people who live up to the myth as well.
about 5 years ago
Hi,
This be Aaron’s friend who got rejected for a job cos of her skin colour.
I’d just like to make a plea to Anonymous and insens on the following points:
Anonymous: “But, as an employer, I have worked with many Malays, and have found many of their work ethic wanting.”
insens: “we also need to look at the people of said race who perpetuate the myth that causes their fellows to be blacklisted.”
I can see where you are coming from, and I do not deny there are people in my race who have given the entire race a bad name in terms of work ethic.
However, does that mean that it is right to stereotype everyone and deny all Malays even a chance?
Anonymous himself has Malay friends who “buck the trend.”
Without being given a chance, a first step to prove the prejudiced employer wrong, how are the Malays who “buck the trend” gonna negate the “myth” being perpetuated?
about 5 years ago
neutral bystander:
“would the citizens whine if their wages are not depressed, while government talents get a payrise, amidst a rise in GST?”
In the end, everything is the government’s fault, isn’t it?
Thanks for adding to the already huge cloud of hot air.
about 5 years ago
Nita:
“Without being given a chance, a first step to prove the prejudiced employer wrong, how are the Malays who “buck the trend†gonna negate the “myth†being perpetuated?”
Impressions are formed from many sources and have many origins. Sadly, not many employers are enlightened. Sadly, all it takes is for one black sheep to taint the entire flock. It is not going to be easy, especially when you are not from a particular ethnic group (stop using the word “race” already!). But take heart, many have gone before you and made it.
By the way, take the blinkers off your eyes. Do not expect employers of international repute not to practise discrimination.
about 5 years ago
Hi IrCRP,
“It is not going to be easy, especially when you are not from a particular ethnic group.”
You mean “especially when you are from a particular ethnic group”?
Rest assured that I am willing to put in hard work and effort to be a valuable employee. And there are no blinkers on my eyes. I have never been deluded enough to expect any employer not to practice discrimination. But I have to do something about it, even if it is not possible to stamp out all discrimination. Something at least has to be done.
Thanks for the encouragement!
about 5 years ago
Just like in USA and European countries. Asia are consider bunch of troublemakers. Actually is just that they could not differentiate between us chinese and other Asian people. I always believe in one thing. If you can prove that you are different, ppl will give you a chance. If you always think that ppl are wrong to you instead of whining you should work even harder like what Anonymous mentioned. Even some of my malay friends feel disappointed about their whole community sometimes. But they never willing to give up which I feel is a good example. So I hope Aaron friend will just forget about it and move on. Becos that is not the only company left in the world. Work somewhere and prove them wrong.
about 5 years ago
The CMIO is a construct, designed to hinder real integration.
about 5 years ago
I’m a S’porean working in Malaysia. When I first started out working in Malaysia (or for that matter in S’pore), I was wondering whether this steoreotyping of Malays being lazy etc is really justified. 10 years on and having employed so many different Malay individuals… I’d have to agree that generally speaking (note : generally) Malay work ethics and attitude is rather wanting. (I can share the problems I faced here and many will agree but that’s not my objective in this post.) And this view is shared even by the locals themselves. Of cos there will always be exceptions to the rule, but sometimes, employers just do not want to take the risk again if they have had enough experiences with them. And the Malays themselves should not always jump at others for that kind of thinking. Sometimes, it would be good too if they can do some self reflection or admonish the bad apples amongst themselves for causing other races to have such stereotyping of them. Afterall, stereotyping does not happen without some basis rite?
I’m not being racist in this sense as I do have Malay friends and have not objection socializing with them. but frankly when it comes to employing them, it’s another story altogether.
about 5 years ago
Hello Aaron. On your conspiracy theory, IcRTP is not WBG, I think. He’s been around for some time – think he was trolling Mr Brown during the period when Mr Brown got suspended from Today. That was some time last year.
But anyway it doesn’t matter. I notice in all his comment postings that he only posts in blogs that express a view contrary to that of the ruling party, and he typically comments by saying that:
1) Talk is cheap. No action = no point.
2) Something along those lines.
3) Generational insults aka “I know better than you”.
I’m not much of a psychologist, but I am of the impression that while he derives some sort of pleasure from reading such blogs (I’m not sure what kind, maybe it’s masturbatory), he does not like dissent of any kind.
So he will comment by saying anything and everything that is contrary and/or meant to inflamme from a supposed superior position, typically employing the PAP tactics like challenging YOU to take action (while he sits back behind his screen and jerks off).
So I have come to the conclusion that people like him are not really worth talking to or replying to. They are happy enough doing what they do. As long as they believe that they have an authority such as the government to back them up, they are always better than you. So they will try to lord this “better-than-you” power over you. So no point lah.
I think that he however, needs psychiatric help. He seems to be a rather unhappy individual to me. All this authoritarianism-submission thing must be very tiring.
about 5 years ago
Little Gecko,
You raised an interesting comparison which some friends of mine running businesses in Malaysia noted recently. However, comparing the situation across the Causeway may be a bit tricky because all the bumi-entitlement rules there creates certain behavioral patterns that a business owner may find very wanting.
In Singapore, the negative stereotype seems to be slowly reversing as it seems the that despite the absence of outright ethnic-based privileges, self-sufficiency and individual achievements are now the norm. Real role models already abound in the professional circles – unlike years ago when ST stories seemed to bend over backwards to highlight individual Malays (recall the word ‘tokenism’ being bandied around at one time?).
But it takes time even in Singapore and clearly this situation with Aaron’s friend shows there’s more improvements to be made.
about 5 years ago
Hi Francis,
The bumi privileges in the working world is felt only in the larger corporations with paid up capital of over RM3million. For small companies like mine, there is no compulsion to hire them nor do we need explanation to the authorities to fire them. So in this employment aspect, the Malays do not get special treatment, hence whether it is a Malay in S’pore or in Malaysia, there is little difference in this aspect.
But I’m telling you that I went to Malaysia to start my own business just a few years after graduating from NUS. I too was bewildered by all that stereotyping of the Malays and didn’t think it is all that true. So I hired them. Since my purpose of this posting is not to put them down, it is not important for anyone to know why I was disappointed by them time and again for the past 13 years to the extent I’d not hire any of them anymore. Remember, I started out as a fresh grad wanting to believe in them; and they proved me wrong.
Really, it would have been easier for me to be all angelic or just be politically correct and chant “down with prejudice against malays!” but I searched my heart and realize the truth need to be told of why such stereotyping exist. The HR person in that large advertising company mentioned here too had their bad experience hiring them and who would want to put their heads on the chopping board again to hire another Malay and live forever in fear that the applicant would not perform and hence put the HR dept in jeopardy?
Frankly my heart does go out to that lady victim because I put myself in her shoes and know what it would feel like to be discriminated against. But I’m just saying that they as a race really have to put in the extra effort to prove others wrong. But how are they going to do that? This itself maybe a sensitive issue so let’s not venture further. But hope you understand where I’m coming from yeah?
about 5 years ago
Hey Little Gecko,
I hear you and not disagreeing necessarily. But I do think that there is less relative basis for concerns about employing Malays in Singapore based on perceived work attitudes. This is partly due to the lack of a prevalent ‘safety net’ that Singapore Malays can fall back on with entitlements in govt jobs or in large companies as with the situation up north. As a result, it seems local Malays have had to compete more on their own merit in Singapore.
My only point was that you do see that happening today in Singapore where local Malays have produced their own successful professionals and graduates with the similar qualifications and work ethic as other ethnic groups, which has helped dispel some of the negative stereotypes to a certain extent. Put it this way, if it came down to having to pick two candidates, both of whom are Malays, but one from Singapore & NUS and the other from Malaysia & UM for a position in say Thailand, and all other qualifications seemingly equal on paper, the decision would be pretty easy for most people.
about 5 years ago
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