Foreign workers more capable, say Bruneians

Foreign workers more capable, say Bruneians

Better service: Bruneians feel the foreign workers provide better services because they are here to earn money. Picture: BT/ Saifulizam
QISTINA RANGGA
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, September 18, 2008

FOREIGN front-line staff provide better services than their local co-workers, many Bruneians said. Diana Mohammad of Kuala Belait who visited the local hospital recently, said that foreign nurses are more caring compared to locals.

"I've been to the hospital several times over the years and usually I find the foreign nurses more caring and they seem to know more of what they're doing," said the 25-year-old.

Michael Shim, 37, said: "I went to this store to buy a pair shoes for my wife and the shop assistant, whom I believe is from Indonesia, took the trouble to call up its various outlets to see if they had the exact pair I wanted. Some Bruneians would just say no stock." Safura Hj Lamit, a local secondary school teacher said that she finds the foreign service staff more professional. "Unlike many foreign workers, some locals appear clueless sometimes," she said.

Computer technician Mia Azlan, 24, who went shopping at a popular shoes outlet in Kg Kiulap, said that some locals are reluctant to serve their customers.

"I was the only customer there and was standing there with a shoe in my hand, looking at five local assistants who only made a move to attend to my needs when I said something. Even that, it seemed insincere on their part, " she said.

Ampuan Hassan, 30, said that foreigners provide better services because they are here to earn money.

"The prospect of coming home empty-handed is not an option for them unlike many locals," he said, adding that many locals working in the service industry are on a temporary basis and many come from well-to-do families.

Another local entrepreneur who did not want to be named said that some foreigners do not mind working longer hours as they are single and their families are abroad.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur said that many foreign workers take pride in what they do and do their work well.

Nur Hafizah Hj Abu Bakar, who works for an IT solutions company, feels that the locals need to be given more training on serving customers better.

"There's nothing better than being served by your own nationals."

Last year, the wholesale and retail trade industry employed some 10,181 foreigners; the personal and social services industry (salons, tailors, barbers, car workshops) employed 7,716, while the hotel, restaurant and cafe industry employed 6,751 foreign workers.

However, it was recorded that there was an increase of 0.5 per cent in the number of locals employed in the personal and social services industry.

In addition, the number of locals employed in the wholesale and retail trade industry fell to 39.1 per cent compared to 40 per cent the previous year.

The Brunei Times