An MP Suggests That S’porean Workers Be Allowed To Take Up Two Jobs, Admits It’s Not For Everyone

As I’m sure you know, most companies don’t allow their employees to take up a second job.

Here at Goody Feed, for example, my boss denied my request to work a second job, saying it would hinder my ability to work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Boss: Eh I gave you an off day on 31st June what

31 June doesn’t even exist. And you’re literally paying me in peanuts.

Boss: Yes, but they’re sugar-coated.

Ok, good point.

At this uncertain time, however, with Covid-19 laying waste to businesses and employees forced to take pay cuts or no-pay leave, we might just have to change our view on this rule.

An MP Suggests That S’porean Workers Be Allowed To Take Up Two Jobs

Chong Kee Hiong, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, believes workers should be permitted to take up two jobs for “better job security”.

Speaking in parliament, Chong said employees could “learn and apply new skills to pursue an additional vocation within the same company or in a second job”.

This would enable workers to develop a varied set of skills that will allow “more flexibility in career switches within a shorter window of time”, he said.

His only caveat was that labour regulations should “protect the workers from overwork and also to regulate potential conflict of interests”.

May Not Be For Everyone

Chong conceded that this approach is a little “out-of-the-box” and may not be for everyone, but wants companies and workers to be given the opportunity to do so.

He said that since many Singaporeans have multiple skill sets, they’d be able to contribute at “a higher level within the same company”.

Alternatively, they could simply supplement their income with a second vocation.

Can Benefit Employers Too

This arrangement isn’t just for workers, though; it can benefit employers too.

In businesses that have “sufficiently differentiated” sectors, employers could allow their workers to take up “concurrent positions in different business units”.

This would “provide resilience through diversification”, Chong said.

For example, here at Goody Feed, writers have to make 5 cups of bubble tea just for our boss every hour.

And since bubble tea orders have seen a 326% increase since Covid-19 emerged, Goody Feed could sell some of the bubble teas it makes.

This, in addition to earning businesses more money, would grant employees the opportunity to take on “dual roles in their different companies”.

Chong said the employees’ pay should not be affected in this arrangement.

Boss: That’s a good idea, actually. From now on, make 5 cups of boba for me and another 5 for customers every hour.

What have I done.

Government Could Incentivise Approach

Chong said that as long as this arrangement doesn’t compromise productivity and work-life balance, it should be available to employees.

He also suggested that the government incentivise companies and workers to adopt this approach.

Now, before you start panicking and write a post on Facebook titled “GOVERNMENT GOING TO FORCE SINGAPOREANS TO WORK TWO JOBS!”, remember that this is merely a suggestion on Chong’s part at this point.

Moreover, even if this approach were adopted, no one would be forced into working a second job.

Chong’s thinking may be “out-of-the-box”, but we may well have to resort to unorthodox means to ride out the Covid-19 storm.