Story by Koh Yi Na / Pictures by Damien Chng
Around 2,000 foreign workers from various countries thronged the open field at the junction of Upper Jurong Road and Pioneer Road North last Sunday evening. They were there for a road-show and community event organised by the SingTel Prepaid Team. Singtel had expected a turnout of 4,000.
Despite the earlier wet weather and muddy field, the workers enjoyed themselves at the various game counters and free buffet. These fringe events were set up in conjunction with the finale of the SingTel Dormitory Idol 2009. The singing and dancing contest started three months ago with auditions at various dormitories around the island.
Fellow Singaporeans were also invited to join in the fun on Sunday.
Benjamin Wong, Deputy Director of Consumer Sales, said that SingTel wanted to “foster bonds and give thanks” to the workers’ tireless contribution to Singapore.
This event is in line with a series of thematic marketing activities, which is targeted at the foreign workers’ communities. It aims to provide prepaid-card customers an opportunity to showcase their talents in a fun and interactive manner, and help foster “a conducive living environment within the dorms”.
From as early as 5.30 pm, groups of workers began arriving from the nearby dormitories and via free shuttle buses. Free food such as curry, spicy prawns, candyfloss and ice cream was provided.
The Online Citizen spoke to numerous foreign workers, and the feedback was unanimously positive. Kumanakrishnan, 25, was queuing up to purchase a prepaid card, and enthusiastically said that he was “enjoying the event very much”.
At around 7.00 pm, the Finale officially began, and workers crowded into the performance area. All of the 400 seats were taken up, and the remaining workers were left with standing room only. A lucky draw preceded the final performances, and attractive prizes such as a PowerPac rice cooker and Akira CD players were given out.
The Online Citizen spoke to one of the 18 finalists. Shad Md Rezaul Alam, 25, who opened the Finale with his rendition of Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)”, described his experiences in singing and performing in his native Bangladesh, and welcomed the opportunity to participate in the competition.
The overall winner of SingTel Dormitory Idol 2009 was Mr Hossain, who won a cash prize and talk-time worth $200, as well as a Motorola V9 Ferrari Special Edition.
Shane Da Silva, Vice President of Consumer Sales, told The Online Citizen, “For many foreign talents working in Singapore, it is not uncommon to feel homesick at times. SingTel Prepaid Mobile understands that and tries to ease the transition for foreigners into Singapore by providing the best value for our prepaid customers when calling their loved ones back home.”
Singtel hopes to have another event for the workers in July.
As of 31 December 2008, the number of prepaid mobile subscribers reached 1.46 million, according to Singtel. This brings the company’s market share to 47.3%.
Here is a video of the event filmed by Mervin Lee and hosted by Teng Jing Wei:
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I don’t think Singtel hires foreign workers in similar low-level jobs in the construction and shipyard sector, of which the unskilled foreign workers exposed by TOC who were abused by their employers and Gangmasters belong to.
This Singtel event is also a sharp contrast to the exclusive Pay-Per-View New Year Eve Celebration
It is interesting to note TOC reporter Teng Jingwei was able to find English-speaking Foreign Worker for her interview.
Let’s be pragmatic on the nature of this event. It is not organised by the foreign workers’ employer, so it is not welfare. Foreign workers represents a growing market for Singtel’s prepaid services, so this event is part of a public relations and marketing campaign. This Singtel event carries does not indicate that Singaporean employers and the Ministry of Manpower has changed its heart for the abused foreign workers. If any, the government remains very much pro-Business.
smallvice585,
It’s nothing unusual that they can speak English. Many I have met do speak a smattering of the language and some speak quite good English as well. It’s a perception which we may have of the Bangladeshis – another one is that they live in mud huts or in dilapidated housing back home. They do not necessarily.
I know of one who was an engineer, another who was a teacher, back in their country.
Actually, for me, it is not the case of perceiving the foreign workers coming from poor rural area in their countries. Rather, I view them as citizens of a non-English-speaking country. Being educated does not make them good English speakers. There are many such people in China – highly educated (up to PhD) and can’t speak a single word of English.
So, what is the aim of this article?
Let me guess, its to show our GLC is loving and caring for FT and TOC is in support of FT ?
I feel for the foreign workers.
In this time of crisis where many are getting retrenched and many were retrenched, there are still foreign workers who get permits to enter for interviews.
This is one case I encountered. Apparently, even without a job offer, fortunately, foreigners from around the world who need a job are seeking employment here.
This is good for the employers. 61% jobs gone to foreigners I was informed.
More jobs occupied by foreigners than citizens. This is a good sign for employers. In a world crisis, people from all over who need a job can apply job here and give ample choice for employers to choose. We need to thank the policies. I am grateful. My ambition now is to be an employer. Employee? why would i want to be an employee when supply is coming from everywhere virtually?
Good work, TOC. I am in support of your pro-foreign-worker stand as i aim to be an employer asap and not be an employee considering for my future where my future is old age and old worker is not easy to be. great work interviewing singtel on the above event that seems to show care and concern for foreign workers. now i know singtel so caring and loving. muah ! muah!
Banana Cheepublic (#5),
Foreign workers represents a growing market for Singtel’s Prepaid Services, so this event is part of a public relations and marketing campaign.
The author wrote: This event is in line with a series of thematic marketing activities, which is targeted at the foreign workers’ communities. It aims to provide prepaid-card customers an opportunity to showcase their talents in a fun and interactive manner, and help foster “a conducive living environment within the dorms”.
It is quite clear. There is really nothing more to it.
17/3/09
Hi Likud Sera-Noted your posting *8, you mentioned61% of jobs gone to foreigners….shocking and how about the local born Singaporeans (don’t tell me that they are choosy ie want easy work and high salary, gone are the days).Time has come to cut down foreign workers or so called Foreign Talents (FT), and to achieve this, perhaps time for our Parliament to pass a law to have 75% Singaporeans in the employers employment. Singaporeans must always come first.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
I appreciate what Singtel is doing. You can call it a marketing or PR stunt or their interest in the “fortune at the bottom of the pyramid”, but at least they did something nice and made those few workers happy. Thanks for this report.
Making people happy’ is what’s right. No matter what I don’t mind foreign workers, if we were to made everything Singaporean first and always I doubt productivity is going to be very high. BUT, I also feel that the lower income people must be given priority in lower income jobs. So that they can at least support themselves. As for the middle and upper income jobs, manager levels and all, they’re going to need to fight and prove their way in. Either that, or become an employer.
#10, you are right. Lets focus on helping foreign workers.
lowest waged singaporeans can wait .
the guests more important .
Read my post again…Middle and High waged Singaporeans can wait….the low waged ones are the ones who need more assistance. And I never said the foreigners were more important, I only said foreign workers should get their fair fight in the middle and upper paid jobs. If you’re going to be one sided in your sarcastic thinking, I’d rather u voice your own thoughts than twist mine.
I agree with Gerald, you can call this marketing or a PR event but at least their (potential) customers are getting something out of this. If more companies start doing such events instead of plonking hundreds of thousands for SPH and Mediacorp ads, why bloody not?
Well done to Singtel for thinking out of the box.
Singtel’s “free abalone porridge” for FTs
So, who says TOC is all about bashing?
Look at the many nice comments above.