I REFER to last Thursday's article, '$70m makeover for Shatec'.

The integrated resorts (IRs) will need a lot of manpower. In the article, it was reported that, of 60,000 jobs, 45 per cent will go to foreigners.

The question is, when Singapore students take courses which are hospitality related, in either the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and Singapore Hotel And Tourism Education Centre (Shatec), will these students have confirmed jobs?

As a polytechnic student, I wonder about the statement of 'not enough manpower for the hospitality industry when the IR comes up'. Within two to three years, graduates from these courses should be able to supply enough manpower for the IRs.

Will the Singapore Tourism Board 'import' foreigners from other countries who are willing to accept low wages?

Take nurses, for example. There was once a lack of nurses here. Students were encouraged to take up nursing as there was a lack of manpower.

When they started their course, hospitals decided to hire Filipinos instead. Some students who thought they were guaranteed a job after graduation, later felt 'cheated' or treated as 'reserve' nurses.

So this question arises again. Will students on hospitality courses be assured of jobs after they graduate?

Tan Shao Ken

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Aug 18, 2008.

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