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From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_730287.html DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYABILITY Workers must also change THERE is another facet of job hiring that should be addressed, namely, how Singaporeans should make themselves more valuable to employers ('Don't discriminate against Singaporeans'; Tuesday). As an employer, I prize three qualities that make an employee invaluable: his attitude, skill sets and the cost of hiring him in relation to the economy. If an employee has these qualities, his employability is unlikely to be affected, even in a recession. Why would any company let such a standout employee go? Similarly, when it is an employee's market and when bosses seek to recruit more staff, their first offers would go to citizens who display great attitude, are of better quality and economically cost-competitive. I do not subscribe to discriminatory hirings and I do not think that such hirings are widespread. Companies exist for profits and if an employee displays these three qualities and is not hired because of discriminatory practices, it would only hurt the firm. My sense is that Singaporeans must improve their attitude towards work to remain employable. The image that sticks with the Singaporean worker is that he is choosy and tends to job-hop. He would leave a company for a pay rise of a few hundred dollars rather than stay and acquire the right skill sets and experience. Instant gratification, rather than patience and perseverance, is another drawback. Many Singaporean workers today have become soft and easily discouraged when things do not go their way. They should stop complaining and ask themselves objectively whether they can compete. We should examine whether we are still as hungry for success as our predecessors, and willing to work as hard and smart to remain competitive, instead of taking the easy way out by blaming the Government, which is doing an excellent job. We can remain employable only by having a great attitude, being of better quality and being more cost-competitive. Restrictions and quotas will not help the employability of citizens. Instead, they will make Singaporean workers more impatient for success, as well as soft and vulnerable in the long run. Alvin Teo