On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 8:13 AM, Divya Manian <[email protected]> wrote:
> I am just curious why it is so hard in cities to find "professional" labor
> despite being willing to pay above market rates. Is it because the smart
> ones have already moved on to better paying jobs, and those left are those
> who are unwilling to work?
The availability of better paying jobs is one reason. Another is the
lack of dignity of labor for the more menial jobs in India. And a
third reason is that maids, car drivers, cooks, etc. working at
someone's home does not get many benefits (5/6-day work week, employer
contributions to Provident Fund, Insurance, paid vacation, annual
bonus, etc.) that they would if they worked for a business.
> Singaporean maid market, on the contrary, is excellent (mostly). Though, I
> do think the maids do not get as much as they should, but they are
> professional and their cleaning is really an "art".
I am reminded of a bit from Pallavi Aiyar's _Smokes and Mirrors_ about
differences between India and China. Talking about the dignity of
labor that public toilet cleaners in China enjoy she says that, and I
paraphrase, she'd prefer to be poor in China and middle class and
higher in India.
Thaths
--
Homer: Look at these low, low prices on famous brand-name electronics!
Bart: Don't be a sap, Dad. These are just crappy knockoffs.
Homer: Pfft. I know a genuine Panaphonics when I see it. And look, there's
a Magnetbox and Sorny.
