In A Fix Over Items Fixed In SARS-Hit Singapore
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Some consumers have lamented about their repaired items in Singapore which could not be brought back to Brunei as local distributors will not send their staff to Singapore to pick them up because of the fear of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The consumers said faulty electrical and electronic products such as television and cameras were sent to Singapore months ago because of the lack of expertise in repairing such items here.

However, after the SARS outbreak, the repaired items, which are now ready for collection are still in Singapore because shops here could not let their staff pick them up as Singapore is a SARS hotspot with rising fatalities.

One consumer said, "Experts in various fields are really needed here because diseases like SARS can complicate things.

"We do not know when we can get our television back. There should be alternatives such as shipping the items. However, the local shop where we sent the television said it is more practical and cheaper to send someone to Singapore than to ship or use aircraft cargo facility."

Meanwhile, employees of the SARS-hit service sector such as travel agents told the Borneo Bulletin that employers must consider other options rather than retrenchment in dealing with the massive plunge in business in the industry.

They said other options such as cuts in salaries with corresponding reduction of working hours should be considered.

However, one travel agent was reported to have taken a drastic option - by forcing some employees to take a one-month no pay leave with options to continue their leave until such appropriate time to resume their employment.

"The best option is to call for a meeting between employees and employers to discuss the situation. Any available options should be agreeable to both parties," they added.

They said forced retrenchment is cruel because the retrenched employees would lose their source of income suddenly.

"We are sympathetic to employers who were affected by the outbreak of SARS. However, they should consider their social obligation since we have mouths to feed.

"Losing our jobs means suffering for our families and employers should take this into account. After all we were with them during boom time and so they must be with us during this difficult and critical moment," they said. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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