Boycott of La Fondue Restaurant

Gilbert Goh of Hong Lim Park fame has called for a boycott of the La Fondue Restaurant for discriminatory advertisement against Singaporeans. The offensive advertisment that let to this boycott is here:

‘HIGH SALARY FOR FILIPINO CHEFS ONLY E PASS, PR AND DP HOLDER

URGENTLY NEEDED CHEFS!!!!...We are currently an all Filipino team at the service and kitchen department….posted by oloresisimoroginald@gmail.com.’
Bloggers are up in arms against such a discriminatory advertisement that came immediately after what MOM had said and specifically told employers to be sensitive and to give the citizens a fair chance in employment. Maybe the restaurant did not read the newspaper or did not know of the MOM’s directive.
 
The next day the CEO of La Fondue, Ravinder Pal, issued a clarification and an apology citing that the management did not know about this and it was the work of an employee and disciplinary action would be taken against him. This did not please the netizens and they are claiming that the apology was not sincere and insulting their intelligence.
 
This is the first time a boycott has been called against a restaurant by the people, a bottom up initiative. And from the angry posts in the internet, it is not going to go down quietly. It is unfortunate that such an incident occurred.
 
While the netizens are angry, they should not lose the plot. The main problem at stake is the good jobs that were taken away by the so called foreign talents at PME level. At the lower level and for jobs that the citizens are not too interested, the reaction should be moderated. The employers need to hire and if the citizens are shunning those jobs, some flexibility must be there for the business to exist and operate. Of course in this case it was the outright discriminatory advertisement that is the main issue. No discriminatory advertisement is allowed under the MOM’s directive. It is against the law.
 
While netizens are right to be angry, let’s focus on the right stuff, the good jobs that PMEs have been discriminated and booted out, replaced by foreigners. This is the crux of the matter. Do not be distracted. Do not lose your focus. Singaporeans want the good jobs.
 
The fact that such a protest came about is telling a story, a new development in the city state. The citizens are getting increasingly aware of their plight, of their ownership of this island. They would not want to be pushed around by foreigners anymore. And the rude foreigners, the beating of citizens by foreigners, only helped to fan the fire. They are claiming their rights as citizens of the island, they are going to reclaim their country. It is a good sign that the citizens have awakened and politicised, and know that they have to fight for their own existence in their homeland.
 
This is the beginning of our version of the Tea Party. The people are standing up for their own rights and well being. They are taking matters into their own hands, a bad sign that says the govt has failed them. When they do, there is nothing to stop them. This is only the first step. This is a concrete action oriented move by Gilbert Goh following up on his PWP protest movement. Gilbert could set up his own team of investigators to expose companies that are guilty of selling out the citizens. He could open an avenue for whistleblowers to go to him or his blog for follow up actions. The whistleblowers can be assured of actions from Gilbert and his team. No lip service.
 
It is action time and more boycotts are likely to be called if the employers continue to flout the employment law and discriminate against Singaporeans. The govt cannot go after the people or Gilbert who are seen as protecting the citizens’ interests. Making things difficult for Gilbert could backfire, as anti Singaporeans.
 
There is a cause, and a champion is born.