Supporting Female Workers
In the 1970s BP encouraged female workers into the workforce by providing training for them. There was
a sales assistants training course held at the BP Refinery training centre in 1971. By encouraging female
workers to improve themselves, they could be more productive and contribute more to society. All of them
were happy with the training provided to them. They were eager to be assigned to any of the BP service
stations. The training was comprehensive. The girls were lectured about the company, the products and
services. Films were also screened to back up the lectures.
As a result of BP’s efforts in employing and training the
ladies, the first BP service station to be managed by
women, BP Telok Blangah, beat all 36 other BP stations,
to emerge overall winner of the Operation Clean Sweep
1975 Competition. It was a year-long campaign aimed
at sprucing up all BP stations and improving their overall
performance. BP Telok Blangah, ran by Catherine Tan and
Jay Chin, amassed the highest number of points – 304.9
out of a maximum of 400 points – from 1 February 1975 to
31 January 1976, to be adjudged the best station in overall
performance during that year.
Catherine and Jay said their staff – of two men and two girls
– played a big role in their success. Catherine said, “They
are very cooperative and we are going to reward them with
something they can treasure.” Catherine who was delighted
with her station’s success, told Berita BP, “I don’t know
whether our success has anything to do with the woman’s
touch, but as people say, women are more domesticated.
We are more conscious of good housekeeping. Running
a station is like housekeeping.”
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“I like to work as a sales assistant because
I like to meet people. I choose BP because
it provides opportunities for improvement
and advancement.”
Miss Lynley Lee
“I find the course most interesting and
stimulating,”
Miss Halija.
“I don’t fancy indoor jobs. That’s why I
applied for this job. I think BP is a good
employer. I like BP,” Miss Roshani.