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Filipino Waiters/Waitresses

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mentos

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Joined: Sep 08, 2004
Posts: 116

Status: Offline

Posted: July 31, 2008 - 10:30 AM
Post subject: Filipino Waiters/Waitresses

It seems that hiring Filipino servers in restaurants and cafes are becoming a common scene here. They mostly serve in places where expats frequent, Bali Laguna, Kakadu, Azul, Sasha, to name a few. What prompted me to write this post was the mediocre service & ordering issues I have encountered in a number of establishments.

I have always thought their advantage lies in their relatively superior English, attitude, and more exposure to the international standards in the Philippines. However with more affluent Chinese customers frequenting western establishments (a majority don't speak any chinese), and with the English level and service attitude of local counterparts catching up, doesn't it somehow balance out? (Assuming the former gets compensated considerably more)

Worse, I noticed many of them even have trouble communicating in English beyond the basics of the restaurants and menu, which I reckon is a major reason restaurants go through all the hassle (higher pay, visa issues, etc.).

Do you see this as a growing trend or it will phase out eventually?

underh20
Shanghai Royalty

Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9921
Location: EOA Seminar

Posted: July 31, 2008 - 10:42 AM

It'll phase out when the PSB finds out they are working and deports them. Wink

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sweenytodd

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Joined: July 10, 2008
Posts: 211

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Posted: July 31, 2008 - 02:20 PM
Post subject: Re: Filipino Waiters/Waitresses

You'll find them everywhere in the service industry including the affluent Gulf - mainly because they speak relatively good English and they work very hard and diligently.

It will change once the English levels of locals start catching up.

Service by Filipinos or Chinese in Shg is pretty good btw.

mentos wrote:

footballshanghai

Reacher

Joined: Mar 01, 2005
Posts: 231

Status: Offline

Posted: July 31, 2008 - 02:37 PM

I would say it is because Filipino staff understand English, customer service, smiling and also they return your change.

perlyn88
Lurker
Lurker

Joined: Dec 14, 2007
Posts: 24

Posted: July 31, 2008 - 03:21 PM
Post subject: cheap huh??

hey you,underh20! are you using your brain properly?? where the hell did you came from huh? who the hell are you to judge people like that?? you are not perfrect either!!

fortune_nookie

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Joined: Apr 07, 2003
Posts: 295

Status: Offline

Posted: July 31, 2008 - 04:01 PM

I think the main advantage of a Filipino worker (or other ‘native English’ speaking people) is their ability to understand non-native English speaking people who are speaking English. Or at least have the ability to 'fill in the blanks' when they don't catch a word or three. Something a local may have trouble doing even if they speak relatively good English.

Even for native English speakers it can be difficult (or impossible in the case of the Scottish) to understand someone with a thick accent. Think Jamaican, Russian, French, Vietnamese, and Japanese etc, who live and eat at expat places but may have difficulty with English pronunciation. Locals that speak English good enough to work in the service sector AND understand people with accents AND fill in the blanks are not going to work at a restaurant; they are going to work at an M.N.C. or an upscale Chinese firm that needs bi-lingual people.

I think they fill a niche here that will continue to get them employment.

kamote

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Joined: May 21, 2005
Posts: 358
Location: shanghai
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Posted: Aug 01, 2008 - 11:01 AM
Post subject: Re: Filipino Waiters/Waitresses

mentos wrote:

Do you see this as a growing trend or it will phase out eventually?

a matter of supply and demand.
if the establishment owners and managers can find a local suitable for the job, do you think they will bother with all the hassles of hiring foriegn staff?

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Gazza

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Joined: Jan 10, 2008
Posts: 398
Location: The Tokyo Slums
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Posted: Aug 01, 2008 - 11:45 AM

I run four establishments throughout China and Filipinos make up about 70% of my staff. I have arranged and paid for the visas of most of them. The only reason the other 30% are Chinese is because I need some people who can speak Chinese and also because the government won't allow me to hire any more Filos.

I would hire a Filo over a Chinese any day for the following reasons:

- They speak English well.
- They work alot harder than the average Chinese. You rarely see one of my Filos standing around doing nothing if the place is not busy. They will always have a mop or cleaning rag in their hands.
- They understand the concept of "genuine" politeness and friendliness. As a race they are natuarally friendly and sociable people.
- They are stable in terms of they are not going to move on to another job at the drop of a hat if you are sponsoring their visas. My biggest problem with Chinese staff is that it's so hard to keep them for longer than 3 months.
- They learn quickly.
- They get on well with other staff (foreign and Chinese). One of my biggest problems with my staff is racism and prejudice (often Chinese against Chinsese... or should I say Shanghainese against other Chinsese)
- You rarely have any discipline issues with them (this may be due to the fact that they know that their visas will not be renewed if they perform badly.)
- They work well together as a team.
- They don'y have hygiene problems.
- They bring you Tossino and dried mango everytime they return from the Philippines.

Just to show that I'm being completely objective here, here's some disadvantages:

- Their salaries are higher.
- Their visas cost a fortune.
- You often get visits from the cops coming to check their visas which disturbs business (mostly in Beijing.)
- They have a tendancy to be late.
- They often ask you to lend them money or give yo salary advances. This is mainly due to the fact that they do not know how to budget and often send more money home to their families than they can afford. Also because they are continuously getting evicted from their homes by the police (usually due to overcrowding.)
- By far the worst thing is that once you have on Filo, you will have others visiting your establishment looking for a job on a daily basis.

When it comes down to it, Filos are well worth the money.

Gazza

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Joined: Jan 10, 2008
Posts: 398
Location: The Tokyo Slums
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 01, 2008 - 12:09 PM

BTW... I find the Filo waiters at Sashas and Kakadu quite good. Very friendly and attentive.

Jolynne

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Joined: Nov 16, 2006
Posts: 320

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 01, 2008 - 12:25 PM

I see one of the moderators took out some comments that were inappropriate.....thank you for that......much appreciated.

hautumncloud
LoopKicker

Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 912

Posted: Aug 01, 2008 - 12:26 PM

We have stopped going to afew of our fav restaurants because their Filipino staff were sent home due to visa problems. They hired all Shanghainese waiters who spoke decent English but with very very poor customer services. Apparently these English speaking Shanghainese were very arrogant and they prefer to chat among themselves instead of seeing to the need of their customers. They are also there temporary and will bolt as soon as they find themselves some office work. We miss the wonderful service provided by the Filipino waiters and glad to see some of them reemerging after their "holiday" back home Smile

Distick

Seeker

Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Posts: 57

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 01, 2008 - 01:43 PM

Filipinos are the Mexicans of Asia.......

p1atl10

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Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 6325
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 01, 2008 - 01:51 PM

Quote:

We miss the wonderful service provided by the Filipino waiters and glad to see some of them reemerging after their "holiday" back home

I am afraid you will have quite a long wait. If they had Visa problems...it is because they were working on an L or F, not a Work Permit. I do not believe that the enforcement of the current regulations will slacken after the Olympics.

So unless, as Gazza pointed out, their employer spends the money for a Work Permit, they will not be back.

As for inattentive english speaking Chinese wait staff.....Do what I do.

Stand on your chair and loudly proclaim:

I do not understand!!! I have money...why will you not wait on me???!!!!!

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