Workers update

Found two sewers (tailors) for my boutique.  Both Filipino and I hope will arrive soon and safely.  Time to start the business after the long hiatus.  I am also hoping all will go well and they will do a great job for the business.

 

Although I am a bit weary on how much it cost to do this, I selected the workers from different employment agencies with different charges.

 

One charge me a whooping B$3000!  They charge B$1600 for their services (does this include the labour deposit?  I dont know and I need to find out!).  Then another B$1400 which I could claim by deducting the worker salary for 4 months.  Her salary will be B$350 whereby meals and accomodation will be provided.  Another agent, charge me B$1600, and I have to pay the airfare for this other worker.

 

Both agents are now processing the whole employment thing and I am hoping all will go well.

Labour Quota

Long overdue post!

Our labour quota has been approved about 2 weeks ago.  Now we can hire workers, a big and important step to start both of our businesses.  Although we are a bit dissapointed when they cut down the number of workers we could hire.  Hubby requested for 10 workers but only allowed 5.  I requested for 3 but only 2 allowed :(

Hubby has his workers ready already, 2 chefs and 2 waitresses so we straight away contacted the workers agent and started the processes of hiring them.  The rules say all must be done through the agent so we depend on them to keep the ball rolling.  I hope they can speed up the whole thing and get the workers here asap.  Too much time has wasted already. 

Unfortunately I havent got any candidates yet, not confirmed ones that is.  I have one tailor, a male, a relative of the chef but not sure if this is confirmed or not.  So I am trying to find tailors or seamstresses.  I've been calling a few workers agents but so far no luck yet.  So I am in a limbo, and dont know for how long!

Labour Dept Issues

Thats the title of this post - basically we are frustrated and upset.

All are done, the restaurant is ready to operate.  We even have 2 Indonesian Cooks to hire but we are unable to do it because our Labour Quota to hire foreign workers has not been approved!

Its almost 2 months now.  We went twice to ask about the progress but its still not done.  What the hell is going on?

My quota is now with the Committee to be approved - although not yet.

My hubby's quota is still pending.  The latest requirement which we just knew about in the weekend was, hubby has to send a completed picture of the restaurant.  (Last time hubby only send uncomplete picture).  This requirement was stated on 15/08 but we didnt know about it until last weekend when we checked.  Why didnt they call us to inform us about this?  Rather than waited for us to come and check?  So we had to go back, took picture of the restaurant and send them back.

Then more waiting of course, hubby's application has to wait for the next commitee meeting which they didnt know when that happens.  The last committee meeting was on the day we went to check huhu.  So we dont know when it will get approved.

Another thing that bothers us is the Indonesian Cook we wanted to hire is impatient.  He needs job and wants to look for other job if we dont hire him soonest.  Its very complicated and we knew he is desperate to find jobs but our hands are tied.  So looks like we may lose him if the quota is not approved within the next few weeks.  And its not easy to look for workers with the right calibre, experience and skills.

Sigghh......

My tailoring shop update - Long Hiatus

When did I last update about my tailor shop? Its been a while.  What a long hiatus.  Well... the fact is we are still waiting for the approval of our quota, by which this will enable us to hire foreign workers.  Its still at Labour Department.

And today we were visited by the officers from Labour Department to check the shop and the staff house to ensure we provide proper accomodations and working environment for all these workers we are going to hire.

And I know we provide good accomodations for them and good working conditions.  So I am hoping there wont be any issues on this and our request for quota will be approved.  And get this show on the road!

Pictures taken outside my tailoring shop :)

Hubby Restaurant Update - Constructions finished!

Yaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy............

 

Look at these pictures!  The restaurant is now done, constructions has finished and let me present to you our new restaurant.!

 

Very very excited.  We are almost there.  After more than 2 months these are the finished products.  Looks amazing, I couldnt believe these are ours.  Our very own restaurant!  How cool!!!

 

Although.. let me just take a deep breath for a while.... huhu...

 

There are still alot to be done.  Alot of shopping, alot of decoration ideas.  Stuff to settle,  Things to do.  And workers to hire.  Menu to prepare.

But I am so happy that we come this far.  Its such a nice feeling to be able to witness this.  Its like a new baby for hubby and I :)

 

So looking forward to make this place come alive.

 

Updates will continue soon with the latest developments until this place is fully operational.  Its going to be exciting for the next few months.

 

:) :) :)

 

Hubby Restaurant Update - The Airconditioners

The airconditioners are now fixed.  There are 3 of them altogether.  One with 2.5 hosepower, the other 2 are 2 hosepower.  I am sure these are sufficient to cool the place, especially when there are patrons there.

 

Hubby opted to purchase the new type of aircon called the Inverter Air Conditioners .  They look similar like the normal aircon but they could save the electricity bills since there are no stop-start cycles like the normal aircons, thus lead to efficiency.  Although these types are a little bit more expensive but we are thinking of long term usage so we are excited about this.

The Inverter Airconditioner

 

Hubby Restaurant Update - Kitchen Equipments

Well.. alot has been going on since the last update. 

 

The restaurant is now in shape.  We went to check some kitchen equipments, the heavy duty ones specially made for restaurant businesses.  They are really robust and rock solid.  Although we cringed abit when we found out about the price.  These equipments were costly!  They could easily cost hubby around B$10,000 alone.  So we were thinking of buying some stuff from Miri where the price could be slashed to half.  Except for the sink, where they dont have that in Miri.

 

All these kitchen equipment are stainless steel and we dont have to worry about the rust and the damp.  There are a few choices at this particular place.  But as I said, they are pricey.  But still this is the most important part of the restaurant so we need to sort them out whether we like it or not.

 

The kitchenette for cooking

The warmer to warm food

The heavy duty and industrial type sinks

 

 

 

 

Hubby restaurant's update

Hubby is getting frustrated because the restaurant construction is a bit delayed and took longer than promised.  I know he was right, the contractor promised to finish it in one month, and its more than 2 months now.  I remember we started the renovation in May 2012 so its unacceptable for them unable to fulfill their promise.

After some persistence and "rough" talk they scrambled to finish the whole project.  And I am glad to report the restaurant is now almost complete and it looks really nice.

I got to choose the colour scheme :) and I am so happy to see the end product hehehe.  It look very homely, comfy and cool.  I hope it will be able to attract customers to come, of course with good food accompanying it.

Update on my tailoring shop

This post is long overdue.  We bought the sewing machine more than a week ago and they are now sitting in my shop waiting for the tailors and seamstress.  These machines cost us around $6500 and they are quite expensive.  I am hoping they will start to generate income soon!

Renovation Update - Hubby's restaurant (The tiles)

The restaurant is progressing really well.  This week the tiles are fixed.  We had quite a hard time to choose which tiles to use.  There were too many choices and we had to keep in mind the theme of the restaurant.  We had been going around and around to a number of tiles shop until we found one that we really liked.

We need to remember the whole concept of the restaurant has to be in syncronise and easy on the eyes.  That means not too many colours.  The less the better (less is more) - along that lines...  I read from somewhere there shouldnt be too many colours for people to like the place.  It has to be soothing.  So we opted to go for at least 3 colour concept or less.  And we also go for earth colours which could have a calming effect, relaxing and feel at home feeling.  Except for the kitchen, where we just choose a whitish tiles for the wall and a darker one for the floor.

I hope we are successful in this.  Our chosen tiles all have a brownish and darkish colours.  I hope it works.

The floor tiles had arrived.

The floor tiles to be installed.

Workers working on the tiles on the walls.

The tiles at the dining area - almost done.

The kitchen

Renovation Update - Hubby's restaurant (Grease trap)

I didnt know constructing a restaurant could be so complicated and costly!

The most complicated work for the whole design is constructing the grease trap.  What is a grease trap exactly?  Before all these, both of us had no idea!  But after we started to embark on this journey, then only we realise, every restaurant should have a grease trap.  We have been to hundreds of restaurants inside and outside the country, we didnt even imagine this thing existed, lol...  I guess most people take things for granted when it comes to dining in restaurants.

Anyway, this is what a grease trap is all about (in a nutshell):

A grease trap is a device that is required by law in every restaurant, cafeteria, catering operation and any other commercial cooking facility. It prevents fats, oils, wax and other debris from falling into the city's sanitary sewer system, which helps prevent blockage and overflows that often occur if such things enter the system. A grease trap must be accessible so you can clean it out, but you do not need to clean out a trap in your home as frequently as one in a restaurant.

To construct it also very costly.  I think that thing alone cost hubby around B$10k.  And it looks so complicated to build.  But its a must have.  Its the law as in most countries.

The construction of the grease trap is currently ongoing and I think will be done and finished in a few more days.  Look at this picture, we would never had imagine right???

My tailoring shop update

Our order for the hanging cabinets for my shop was delivered yesterday.  It costs hubby around B$3,500! And this is already amongst the lowest quotations we received.  Some cost B$4000 above. Phew... I didnt realise it was quite expensive. Just for some simple open type cabinets.  Thats how the price is for things these days.

But the shop is taking shape, same like hubby's restaurant.  Hopefully we can start business soon, since for now we only operate very minimally and via online :)

Shopping time.

Now that hubby's restaurant is almost 60% finished, its time we do a bit of shopping to choose the tiles for the floor and walls.  And some light fixtures and other amenities required for the restaurant. 

This is the part I like most.  Shopping!

We have the theme in mind for the restaurant and we try to streamline what we have in mind with the things we see.  Very exciting. 

We started doing the walkabouts to some of the shops in Bandar and found some we like.

Its still a long time yet but its taking shape. 

Pictures of early stages of renovation.

Some pictures of hubby's restaurant renovation which is currently ongoing.  So excited to see something is the works.  Cant wait to see its finished.

Renovation Update - Hubby's restaurant

It finally begins!

Today.. the workers are starting the renovations.  Hubby managed to get all the approvals and documentations in order and its the time now.

We are excited beyond words, too much time wasted already.  The workers start with the break down of the two toilets.  The renovation is extensive, major construction. Cant wait to see its starting to develop.

Signboards Installed!

Hubby and I had a chuckle when the contractor came and installed the signboards.  We havent started the business yet, especially with hubby's restaurant.  But the signboards are already up there, so we decided to put a cover on top of them so people wont see them yet lol.

But I must admit to see the signboards really lifted our moods and our spirits to do well in this new venture.  So "teruja" hehehe.

The signboards

Its been a week, we got so busy with everything life, and mostly taking care of starting up this business.  Its taken so much of our time, there are lots to do.

We had made order to make the signboards for both of our shops.  We ordered at Shim's Advertising Agency at Menglait. We got their contact from the Dewan Bahasa and we thought they are good enough to make order from since they are familiar with the whole process of applying for the signboards.

For info, applying for signboards we still need to get approval from Dewan Bahasa who will approve the signboards.  Then we will  apply for approval from TCP where we need to pay B$150 as tax (I dont know what tax).  All of these will be done by the Agency on our behalf.  Then they will design and make the signboards.

So we are good to go with the signboards although our business havent even started yet!

The quotation for my tailoring shop

Hubby's restaurant quotation

This is how the signboard looks like

Hubby's signboard

ABCi - what is it?

Wow... hubby is still waiting to start the construction of his restaurant.  Poor hubby, the rent has been running since february but the restaurant hasnt even started.  I guess to open up a restaurant is the most difficult business venture.  There are so many things to do, rules to follow and approval to seek.  Not to mention how expensive it is!  Luckily hubby is a strong person, he is determined and I pray to Allah that all will go well and his dream will come true :)

The construction is delayed (I explain why later).  We are now waiting approval from ABCi, we got approval to TCP already and now we are dealing with ABCi.  What is ABCi?  ABCi stands for Authority of Building and Construction Industries.  And one article about it can be read here.  In summary, they were formed to ensure all the constructions and worksites adhered to the set rules and regulations.  Similar to TCP but I guess ABCi is more into setting rules on safety, flood, water and pollution to the areas.

The job of getting the approval should be done by our QP (qualified person or Architect).  He is the same person who designed the restaurant drawings and submitted the approval to TCP.  We were still waiting to hear from him until last weekend.  Apparently he hasnt submitted hubby's approval to ABCi so the construction is now delayed.  Upon hearing hubby needed to sign some more papers we rushed to the QP office to sign some more drawings before it could be submitted.  And thats done, so more waiting.

In the meantime, hubby also collects a few more quotations from a few contractors and he found a good and reasonable cost for the construction.  So we might go to him.

Phew.. gotta be strong man...  Its not easy.  Its so different from my tailoring shop which is more simple.  For restaurant, it is more strict since the authority needs to protect the environment and the surrounding area, I guess.  So many requirements to fulfilled!

Hubby with his QP

p/s.. sorry i was just rambling up there, hehe.