I was at the check-in gate at Changi Airport 80 minutes before departure. The gate was supposed to open at that time. It did not. The security staff, under Certis, were chatting away. A long queue of passengers had formed. After 10 minutes, the security staff beckoned the passenger to proceed for security clearance.
I asked the security staff why they started the clearance 10 minutes after the scheduled time. He said, "shortage of manpower".
This answer is not acceptable to me. We have many Singaporeans who are unemployed. Why can't Certis employ them to meet the manpower shortage? They must be keen to make a profit on their contract, rather to spend more on manpower. As a results, the customer service deteriorated.
This is the consequence of the cost cutting, outsourcing practice of our government and quasi-government agencies. By being short-sighted, they have created a deterioration of service standard. Nobody seem to care about this deteriorating situation. (This is not the first time, as I had experienced a similar delay on my previous trip.
I hope that our government leaders are reading this post.
I asked the security staff why they started the clearance 10 minutes after the scheduled time. He said, "shortage of manpower".
This answer is not acceptable to me. We have many Singaporeans who are unemployed. Why can't Certis employ them to meet the manpower shortage? They must be keen to make a profit on their contract, rather to spend more on manpower. As a results, the customer service deteriorated.
This is the consequence of the cost cutting, outsourcing practice of our government and quasi-government agencies. By being short-sighted, they have created a deterioration of service standard. Nobody seem to care about this deteriorating situation. (This is not the first time, as I had experienced a similar delay on my previous trip.
I hope that our government leaders are reading this post.
Your observation is spot-on. I had a similar experience not too long ago. If such situation is allowed to continue, the image of Changi airport will definitely be affected.
ReplyDeleteWhy must Singaporeans be made to work SO HARD?.. Sorry.. Just a frustrated ranting..
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about that, all Govt and quasi Govt Agencies have manpower shortages, and outsourcing to save costs is the name of the game.
ReplyDeleteBut only a mere 10 minute clearance
delay, dun see what's the big fuss.
yujuan,
ReplyDeletethe big fuss is trying to reduce manpower, when so many locals are unemployed.
instead of reducing cost, the government should set standards of service, and ensure that most people who wants to work can get a decent job.
they should not be competing for scare jobs and reducing their earnings in the process.
The get real situation is not about Singaporeans unemployed, it's about Singaporeans doing the job of one and a half employees, because the boss wan to save ever escalating costs to compete.
ReplyDeleteAn R & D engineer in a MNC, whose clients spread across different time zones, has to work from 7.30 a.m., to laise with their clients, then has to attend brainstorming meetings after official hours the same day up to 8 p.m.,
Such sessions could last 4 days per week. His asthma attacks keep repeating from such long hours.
No sick leave or overtime pay hor, but the irony is, when sent abroad to clients' offices for troubleshooting trips, he works from 9 to 5 sane hours.
Why is he keeping silent, his company full of foreign colleagues.
Engineers in Singapore is the worst paid professionals.
Needless to say, he's looking to find job overseas, and maybe quit Singapore finally. Dun wan to switch to be a property agent.
Meanwhile, he keeps his asthma puff in pocket, dun wan to die Teresa Teng's way, and keep weekends sleeping, sometimes having to work whole day Saturdays.
No time even find girlfriend to marry.
Some security guards are not professional.
ReplyDeleteTwo months at Air Asia departure gate, the male guard suspect I carry liquid after x-ray. The female guard ask me if I carry water. My answer was 'no'. They did not believe me and open my bag. She took the supicious item and show to her collegue: 'it's handphone charger'.
Airport tax was $28. Now, $36.
For better security?