Most of us are all too familiar with how frustrating job hunting can be. Many companies have such stringent requirements it can sometimes feel like it’s impossible to find work. Although it is necessary for companies to have strict standards when it comes to hiring employees, it’s inexcusable when those standards step into discriminatory territory!
We’re sure many job hunters have come across job openings that list “Mandarin/Chinese-speaking” as one of the requirements. Sure, some jobs definitely require its employees to speak more than one language when it comes to liaising with specific clients. However, as this Singaporean man recently pointed out in a viral video, this requirement can sometimes be used to discriminate against different races.
Source: The Straits Times
Facebook user Tharenii Muniandy caught the attention of Singaporean netizens when he uploaded a video of himself ranting about the subtle racism he had faced while looking for a job in the IT sector.
He said,
“I’m an IT guy. My job is highly reliant on technical competency. That being said, I received a call (from a company) and the person asked me if I could speak Chinese. I said yes, I could speak Chinese.”
“Then, he asked me so many technical questions; then he asked me, ‘Are you Chinese?’. Then I said I wasn’t, and he said ‘Sorry, we’re only looking for Chinese-speaking people’.”
“What if he did not ask me if I was Chinese and I actually go and show up for the interview — is he going to insult me to my face by saying ‘Actually, we are looking for a Chinese-speaking person’.”
He then continued speaking in Mandarin, saying,
“Am I supposed to beg and say ‘Yes I really can speak Chinese, I’m not lying to you. Please give me the job’.”
Many Singaporean netizens also agreed with him, pointing out the blatant racism in these job requirements.
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook
What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read: Nigerian Expat Shares How He Was Harassed by Racist M’sian Cops Due to His Skin Colour
