Yellow Ribbon? The folks in office just had a mini discussion about the recent Yellow Ribbon project, which has pretty much been our Big Brothers' latest preoccupation.

Of course, all our opinions differ.

Heard dey recently held a fair for employers to recruit our ex-convicts. Well, i must say, kudos to u very open-minded people. But, apparently oni one public sector turned up. So much for their effort in rooting for it.

It's obvious where the government is coming from, but then again, how successful will dis campaign be??

So much being said, i maintain that employers r alwaz conservative. Dey wanto see wad dey wanto see & hear wad dey wanto hear.

Yes, it's true, dey prefer to believe in the make-believe.

How does the following proposition sounds to you?

"Hi, my name is Peter, i m looking for a job. But i've got a criminal record, was in jail for 1.5 months for stealing. I hope to get a job in the government organization. I've applied directly but dey told mi bcoz of my record, dey can't employ me. Dey asked mi to come to u guys for help, perhaps U can do a recommendation?"

I understand dat it's all about forgiving & forgetting, ok..not exactly forgetting, but more like giving a 2nd chance for their repentence.

But should our government be so magnimous & agrees to take in all ex-convicts, albeit for lower level jobs, would u, as a Singaporean, feel comfortable knowing the majority of our government organizations are constituted by ex-criminals??

I wouldn't.

If the campaign reli works & makes it so much easier for ex-convicts to find a job, wouldn't dat make committing a crime less consequential???

The moral of the story is, Dun Commit A Crime. Considering the consequences & the potential vindication lying ahead, it's just not worth it.

Sometimes, it's not so much of the blemish on ur tract record, it's wad makes a person dat determines if the employer would hire you. If u r awesome wif ur PR skills, or soft skills, it makes things so much ezier, i tell u.

I've seen perfectly normal people, with good working experiences & all dat but with SUPER low emotional quotient & at the end of the day, they still have difficulties bagging the job, Masters or no Masters.

We've came across so many, who literally begged us for a job...some who tot of ending their lives coz dey can't get a job...we've experienced people trying to bribe us to get a job...& even people who offer to give us part of their salary to get a job.

And dis people r our fellow Singaporeans i'm toking about here.

Dis people do not hv a criminal record, but similarly, dey hv difficulties getting a job. So, whose liability is dis?

Before u jump to conclude of coz it's the individual's own problem, but the society plays a part in molding us to be who we r, no?

I dun wanto dwell in all those sociological theories (i shud be working btw haha), but i'm just curious as to where the crux of the issue lies. And just for the record, the above proposition, the call from Peter (Not the actual name of the caller la, i changed it, sori Peters.)?? Did happen.  ¶ J poppycocked at 12:20:00 PM