You’d have read this everywhere: Singapore needs foreign workers because there are some jobs that Singaporeans would shun.

And then some social justice warriors would appear out of nowhere to complain about the lack of job opportunities in his own country and talk about some new HDB flat.

Reader Bao: New HDB flats?

Yeah, they’ll often go, “Time to BTO!”

Reader Bao: I think you meant VTO

Oh. It’s not a typo?

But anyway, a new survey might make them swallow their words now.

Survey on How People Look at Essential Workers Now

Like it or not, you can’t deny that jobs are being discriminated. And even more nowadays.

If you work in an essential service, you can proudly post some images online to show the world about your sacrifices because as we stay home, you are going out to keep the earth spinning.

For example, food delivery riders, some of those whose life mission since young was to feed hungry people instead of being a postman, have been glorified.

Which is understandable, given that they’re taking the risk out there, though you’ve got to call a spade a spade lah: at least they still have an income.

I mean, if you’ve downloaded our app, you’d know about the cracks in society that are hidden beyond the beautiful cloak of something known as the Internet:

So The Sunday Times commissioned consumer research firm Milieu Insight to see if we have indeed changed the perceptions of essential workers in Singapore.

And the results are…way different from the pretty stories on Facebook and Instagram.

You already know that, don’t you?

17% of People Now More Interested to Work as Essential Workers

2 in 3 of the 1,000 people surveyed said that their impression of essential workers has improved.

But.

Only 17% said they’re interested to work as essential workers. The similar number of people would be more open to let their kids work as essential workers.

Money doesn’t seem to be the problem here, as only 22% look at the salary as the most important factor in determining whether to take up an essential job. The top reason is that the job should match the person’s interest.

And here’s the most interesting result:

50% of S’poreans Won’t Work as Construction Workers or Cleaners Even if Pay is Tripled

It seems like the best we can do is to sing songs and clap for essential workers.

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57% of them would not want to be garbage collectors, and 42% would reject cleaning jobs.

Needless to say, these are very essential jobs.

But what if the pay is tripled?

Half of them will still say no to work as a construction worker, cleaner or security guard.

Not sure how many of these people have sung “Home” at their window more than a month ago.

The moral of the story?

The Internet is filled with many feel-good stories. Take it with a pinch of salt, and remember: social media is less about connecting with others and more about vanity, egocentricity and self-promotion.

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