For week 3's comments, I comment on Harry's and Rachel's reflection.
The article is retrieved fromhttp://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_483570.html
The news that Changi airport only recruit shop associates who speak fluent Chinese has stirred up a huge controversy. Some people show their strong resistance to this requirement on job. However, I agree with the author's opinion that the language proficiency of the associates should depend on the type of the shop.
The criterion is just a common requirement for employees which only aim to appeal to the customers. It makes no difference to those want advertisements which say that professional knowledge is needed. We must be aware of the special features of the work to be a shop assistant in the airport. Singapore is a busy traffic hub in the world where large traffic is experiences everyday and Changi Airport is the prop of it. As a shop assistant in an international airport, proficiency in at least two languages is a neccesary skill to survive. If the shop wants to excel in the intense competition, it must provide more satisfying service. In the condition that more than 50% of the customers are Chinese, the shop certainly will choose the staff that are conversant with Chinese. We can only consider it as a market strategy rather than any discrimination.
Someone argues that if Chinese people want to business in such an internationalized world, they should learn English. However, I think they misunderstand the situation. The point they put forward is absolutely right but it is not suitale in this case. What the shop associates face are the customers instead of the bussiness partners. Customers have their choices to deside which shop they will go in and don't care about will this shop brings more benefits or profits. The shop rely on the customers but the customers don't rely on them, which is different from the interdependent relation in business cooperation. Therefore, the shop must try their best to get accustomed to the client's requirements rather than to expect the customers to speak the language they use for better communication.
In my point of view, the story is all about how a shop adjust their selling strategy and has nothing to do with discrimination.
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Elaine
回复删除Some good, clear arguments and counter arguments your response provides; however, the 1st paragraph could be made clearer in terms of reference.
If you agree with the original writer, you might want to show that more clearly in your arguments [distinguish his views from yours] while supporting it further with your own examples/elaboration.
With improved grammar and language structure, I believe your responses will read more coherently and convincingly.
I also agree with you that the the shop must try their best to get accustomed to the client's requirements rather than to expect the customers to speak the language they use for better communication. There is an old Chinese saying which means that "customer is the king". The king has a choice. If you don't do a good job, the king can ask someone else to do it instead of you. But you don't have a choice because the king is always the king. If you are not obedient to the king, you have no way to survive. How can you ask the king to improve something in order to cater to your taste? The answer is obvious. You have no choice but to do your best to improve and meet the demand of king.
回复删除I really agree that this kind of criteria on the shop advertisements is a marketing strategy. However, we should care about others’ feelings.
回复删除We all know that Singapore is a multiracial country, which means there are also other races beside Chinese. What an Indian will think if he or she saw this advertisement? He will not think this is a marketing strategy. He will think this is a kind of discrimination. I also saw some comments on this issue which were not quiet pleasant. They thought because there were more Chinese, people would have to learn Chinese. Would they learn other language, if they were not the major population in Singapore? Hence, I think, no matter it is a strategy or not, the employer should explain well why he or she wants this kind of language requirement. Also, they may consider of employing a certain potion of Chinese employees, instead of only Chinese.
I really hope the employers can choose the words carefully when they advertise. Every race has the right to be treated equally. I hope we can minimize the racial discrimination.
By Brandy
I agree with you that 'the story is all about how a shop adjust their selling strategy and has nothing to do with discrimination'. The shop assistant is a special position which needs frequent conersations with customers. In Changi Airport, the Chinese customers counts a large propotion. I think this is the main reason why the employer wants the employees to be manderine speakers. They may also need employees who speak other languages, I'm afraid, as there are also many customers form other countries. In my opinion, this is not discriminations but considerations about the particular position. I believe that in many other positions, there will not be such requirements regarding different races.
回复删除However, I also agree with Brandy that the employees should use proper expressions while discribing their reqirements. There should not be the words which suggest the unfair treatment towards people from different races. In Singapore, a multiracial country, it is very important that people from different race can live with harmony.
I think that the requirement of speaking fluent Chinese is only a matter of marketing strategy rather than overt discrimination. Every shop is looking for more business and customers. While 50% customers are Chinese, there is absolutely enough motivation to set such a rule when employing clerks. Speaking Chinese is a very useful skill nowadays, especially in Asia, where many Chinese often travel around. I don't think this requirement is illegal, because in China, almost every company requires its employees speak good English, or at least obtain a certificate of sufficient English. For those who think this requirement is discrimination, I suggest them work harder in college and don't blame your lack of skills to discrimination.
回复删除In my opinion, a shop in Chanqi Airport, an international airport in the world, the shop assistant must be able to handle at least two languages to cater for visitors from all over the world. According to my own experience in the past more than one year in Singapore, most of Singaporeans especially the Chinese, which occupies more than 70% of population in Singapore would like to speak Mandarin to communicate with others in the daily life. So an assistant with influent Chinese can help the local Chinese customers have a nice shopping. Furthermore, there are a lot of visitors from China every year and most of them cannot speak English, a shop assistant with influent Chinese seems necessary. --By Ryan.
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