Why do local companies think that foreigners are better employees? I am sure you have heard of foreigners being employed in being paid triple or quadruple the salary of a local for doing the same job. Are they really that good? Are locals really inferior, esp compared to the "Gwai-Lo"?
One of my previous employers did employ a "Gwai-lo" thinking he could do a much better job. Paid him in USD and provided him w apartment and car as well. Was he really worth it? No way! He was good in his work but I am sure my boss could have found a Malaysian who is just as capable if he was willing to pay a little more than market rate(Still much lower than the amount paid to the Gwai-Lo). My boss kept on singing praises for him and this caused a very tense working environment as the other staff started to distance themselves from Gwai-Lo. Eventually many left. Donno whether he is still there.
My friend who works in ESPN Singapore was also unfortunate as he and abt 20 others(All locals) were laid off b'cos of cost cutting measures. The word was ESPN was spending a bomb on football pundits like Steve McMahon and all the other former footballers they invite as guest pundits. Thus to cut costs, someone had to make way and unfortunately it was the locals. I wonder how much our Shebby Singh gets paid!
Sigh..... Are we really inferior to the "Gwai-Los". I certainly don think so but then why are employers willing to pay so much for foreigners but unwilling to go a little higher for locals? Inferiority Complex? U tell me! The only area which I feel most Gwai-los have advantage over us is their PR skills!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
LLT Dude: Donno me friend. Perhaps it depends on what sorts of jobs you're talking about. If you're talking about highly skilled, specialised and that requiring extensive experience,ie. vocations like fundamental research in any fuckin' field, Medicine, Engineering, Architecture(yeah sure we built the Twin Towers...my arse!), maybe in most fields.. NO WAY MAN! I certainly do not know the situation in your vocation! Even the local fucks are so biased in employment.. they fucking come here to recruit hopeless Malaysian DickGrads who study here(me inclusive!).
You're absolutely right on one thing though, the transfer of knowledge or technology or creativity is failing!! ...perhaps we're more preoccupied with just getting rich easy and talking coffee-shop crap like most politicians and not passionate enough in our fields of expetice!! BN Wawasan 2020...my fucking arse!... then again we seem quite advance media spin and in the usage of C4!!
You take care, M.
It is subjective, really.
I’ve encountered many “gwai lo” in my field of work. When it comes to creativity, they are not as good as the locals because most of their ideas can’t penetrate the local market; when it comes to marketing solution, they are not great because they can’t understand why we love curry better than brown sauce.
For international companies, it is an image they are maintaining. You can’t be Dutch Lady if you don’t have a Dutch feller bobbing around looking great. These people are on a hot seat and surely will be fired if they screw up.
I don't know why local companies wanna hire white blobs in the first place. Be it first class white blobs or forth class white blobs, peoples who hired them are low self esteem sucker for “white blobs are definitely better” because you can spot them in the dark. Obviously your ex-boss is not very clever after all.
Seriously, when you see a “gwai lo” on the street, he will automatically smells like a successful executive even if he is rotten inside. They take our jobs away, they take our money away, and some of them even take our women away.
Enough about white trashes. Have you ever thought about those Indian nationals working in Technology Park as IT consultants? They are all over the place and they are cheaper, smarter, and they have no choice but to be hard working.
How come nobody screaming out loud that they are taking our jobs, money, and women away?
It all comes back to our own attitude. Why are we still enjoying whisky when tuak is much cheaper to give you the same effect? Worst! Why some of us are sending our children to white trash country to get a “better” education?
At the end of the day, we have the knowledge; we are capable of doing our job. But to create an international (or some says, high class) image, you can either drive a German made car with a single digit number plate, or, hire a white trash to get your way up. Both are quite dumb, really.
The above opinion worth 2 liters of homemade ginger ale. Sekian, terima kasih.
Wah! Long discussions!
Mohan : Agree w u that in certain highly skilled areas, we probably need foreign expertise. But definitely not in finance or general management! And why did whoever it is employ a blardy alcoholic like you? Sure u're not working in Carlsberg or the like?
Moonfish : Chill girl! You sound really pissed off! Haha!
Anyway, I have nothing against foreigners who earn their money the hard way in fields which we are lacking in terms of human resources. I used to work in TPM and the main grouse with local IT specialists are they are more expensive and they do not stay long in a job. The Indians employed there are cheaper than locals and are normally tied to at least a 3 year contract. So I guess it makes commecial sense to do so.
What I am pissed off abt is those companies that hire foreigners (esp Gwai-Los) just for status purpose. They look important but no way are they better than any locals. The worse part is, the bosses take every word of theirs as the gospel truth and local opinions are dispelled faster than Ronaldo can fall and claim for a penalty!
Your homemade ginger ale is mixed with Gin ah?
Too bad the bosses are stupid enough to not know that who is the biggest assets. Don't you realize that common people only recognize liabilities?
Ginger-ale is for Chivas. Not Gin. It seriously a killer.
I am pissed because I have a Pinnochio dancing around making me work on a weekend! But if there's a potential for a great job offer, I am happy to work peace(pissed)fully.
This is a darn good blogging material!
Hey LLT dude. This is my first time logging in into your blog, after numerous reminders. As for your thots, I've worked with a few 'Kwai Los' and met them in my previous work. Frankly, I would say, due to their exposure in their respective countries eg US, UK, Spore, HK - they do have more expertise. I agree with Mohan, yup, the line of work is important. I was in the financial sector, so, we do seem to be lacking behind in terms of expertise. But not in terms of physical technology. I think we're quite at par with the "Kwai Los' counterparts. PR skills - depend on seniority. Most high level personnel are fantastic in their PR skills.
But then again, it was almost 4 years ago since I left my high flying job. So, I could be lacking behind in terms of what's out there in the financial market.
Gavin: I think it's all in the mind really. Have the experience of working with the white (wo)man and it's really subjective area.
Some people live in some mindframe that a white man knows more than them and is therefore more qualified and needs bigger pay packets and packages to keep them happy in backward Asia.
Some of these have been absolute dickheads you keep trying not to murder.
Some are awesomely wonderful to work with.
But man ... people need to get over the whiteman is God mentality ... that be a good start!
Moonfish : Ah, now I know y there's so much anger! Working on the weekend! Let me guess, the person making u work over the weekend must be a........Gwai-Lo!!!
PP : Hopefully it won't be another 5 years b4 u drop a line here again.
To me, if you require their expertise and can't find it locally, pls go ahd and hire them. Not hire for any other reason. It is sickening to know how much they are paid when u know u can do the same job and yr boss won't even give u a 10% increment!
Ani : "Dickheads you keep trying not to murder"! Good one Ani! So with you on the fact that Asians in general need to get over the "White man is god mentality"
The white man can be a useless prick back home but put him in a suit here and he is the almighty!
LLT: One area me can tell you that white, black, brown or local talent have failed spectacularly - Malaysian footie team!
Moonfish: Tuak is cheaper than whiskey! Great point & me totally agree with you. Have been fortunate enough to sample some fooking divine tuak which has the MIRACLE effect of gettin g you drunk WITHOUT a hangover!!!
Unfortunately, tuak ada susah mau cari la.
Tuan LLT,
Sorry off topic. Am starting a 'pay it forward' initiative at me blog (as u saw) by trying to persuade me friends & other non-registered citizens to register in anticipation of a snap election. Then get each person to convince 5 other friends to get registered & so forth.
Perhaps a plea in the form of a well-written post from yer goodself might convince some people to take some affirmative action. Also continue yer good work in spreading the propaganda verbally!
TQ fer yer time & consideration! And look forward to reading yer post!
Interesting to know.
Post a Comment