Over the last days there’s a lot of news in #Singapore about new Covid cases linked to KTVs. Now there are many family karaoke lounges but the more obscure version is deeply embedded in Singaporean Chinese business culture and is basically a sex club where business partners bring their business relations to enjoy drinks in the company of often young and illegal women.

Containing the covid clusters related to these cases is hard, because of the very nature of the business; neither the business owners, nor the patrons or the staff want to be too open about having been present…
All this sparked a lot of discussion online so what’s at the core of the debate?

Paying for or getting paid for sex is not a shame as long is it is a fair and honest transaction. That’s the thing: in KTVs it often is not; it’s shady, workers are often here illegally, pay and working conditions are poor and for most staff this really is not their preferred career. No doubt there will be entrepreneurs that run a proper business but many do not and don’t take employee welfare and regulations very serious.

The second point runs deeper. In Singaporean Chinese local businesses the practise of entertaining customers and relations in a KTV is still customary. However, after the #metoo movement it should be questioned if this is considered a sound, sustainable and ethical part of doing business and related to that: should the government, employees and business federations take steps to eradicate it?

Welcome to #Singapore….

We’d like to hear from you and understand your views. We welcome your ideas, links and feedback.
 
The Neighbour

In Singapore mainstream media is controlled or even owned by the  government. An example of what that can lead to - and this is a harmless example – is this a recent article about Phuket opening up… 

The headline looks objective enough stating that travellers will likely not be willing to pay for the compulsory covid test they will have to take before travelling. However, what is the cost of a test on a week holiday? That’s only a small price compared to the trip itself and can hardly be the real reason for not travelling.
The real reason - and the elephant in the room that the government and main stream media avoid talking about - is that going to Phuket is easy and cheap, coming back is not. Simply because Singapore makes it close to impossible to come back into the country. If you’re a citizen or permanent resident you can come back but have to be quarantined for 2 weeks. If you’re here on a work- or employment-pass you cannot come back into the country at all.

On top of that the word quarantine is avoided, instead it’s called Stay Home Notice or even more obscurely referred to as ‘SHN’… the thing is though you’re not at home at all but in solitary confinement in a government facility at your own costs. That’s often a good hotel but who wants – after a week holiday on Phuket – be locked up (food is brought to the room and you’re not allowed to leave your room) for 2 weeks at your own costs?
That all even if you’re fully vaccinated and test negative.

Welcome to Singapore….

​We’d like to hear from you and understand your views. We welcome your ideas, links and feedback.
 
The Neighbour

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/spore-travellers-not-flocking-to-reopened-phuket-costly-covid-19-tests-shn-among?utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ST_Newsletter_AM&utm_term=Costly+Covid-19+tests%2C+SHN+deter+S%27pore+travellers+from+flocking+to+reopened+Phuket&utm_content=02%2F07%2F2021