Table Cleaning - uniquely Singapore

These days is hard not to be apolitical. Having a late night meal at Vivo city Kopitiam, looking at the aunty cleaning tables, its really a sad state for a self-proclaim first world island to hoodwinked the world.  How did we end up this way?  The answer came when I observe how table cleaners are mostly retirees with little or no education, no savings, probably didnt have a sustainable career, or are retired housewives.


Table cleaning is a dead end job, its uniquely as Singaporean as the government is so fond of having Ministers without portfolio just to keep a yesman.  Its totally unnecessary if the social norm is have everybody clean up after their meals.  Like what was done in the army, NS returning trays to the washing point, even washing them for the next batch.  But why are Singaporeans nurtured not to do so?  The answer seems to be keen business competition, if an establishment does not provide this service of cleaning tables, customers would go elsewhere who does.  People are spoilt for choice, they dont have to return their plates at all!


In fact competition is so keen that even in hawker centres, table cleaners are hawkeyed by hawkers to make sure they clean superfast to make way for customers to get seated and finish their meals like clock work!!!  If they dont, the cleaner contractor would lose the contract.  So it seems the government's lame drive to get Singaporeans to return their trays at hawker centres or all eating establishments is just another wayang courtesy-is-for-free  gimmick that doesnt do anything.  All that campaigning, banners, that stainless steel tray return shelf.  The fire-fighting government we have, very goodah.


Having table cleaners for a small island with over population is highly inefficient, a waste of space and resources.  Like I said, its a dead end job, resources could have been put to better use, and that cleaning contractor better think of something more innovative when times change.  Why?  Because in F&B restaurants, they charge you 10% service charge for waiter service, they serve you, clear your table after you are done.  Dont you think hawker food doesnt include all expenses into their meals as well?  Where do you think the recent food price inflation is cause by?  Waste of resources.  Because of this relentless pursuit of production line efficiency, costs for table cleaners, costs of stall rental, costs of airconditioning, costs of exhaust hoods, renovations to fulfill NEA cleanliness, blah, blah, blah.  Hawker food is not what it used to be anymore, the passion for good food has been overclouded by red tape, restrictions, legislations, and bottomline efficiency.  Whichever way you look at it, GDP pursuit is going to kill creativity and innovation like cancer.