I REFER to Ms Wee May Lin's letter, 'Studies first or part-time work?' (The Sunday Times, Sept9).

There is nothing wrong with working part-time, be it for material wants or real needs, like paying school fees.

In the West, students baby-sit, or wash cars for extra pocket money too.

I own an ice cream cafe and hire some part-time student employees. Apart from the main tasks, such as serving customers and preparing food, my part-timers also help organise charity events, draw and decorate the noticeboard in the cafe, write website content, and brainstorm ways to improve service.

Part-time work helps to build character in a safer environment. I have part-timers who do not sweep the floor or even wash a cup at home, but when they come to work, they cook their own dinner, and even clean the toilets.

They learn new skills from their supervisors and peers.

However, I agree that too much part-time work can be negative. It all boils down to how a company manages its part-timers.

At my cafe, all part-time student employees are reminded that school comes first. Those who fail their tests or exams will not be allowed to work.

They are told that they are not welcome to work full time if they drop out of school. However, they are always welcome to work full time after completing their studies, and even better if they can rejoin the company as an accountant, operations manager or graphic designer.

During exam periods, supervisors here will ask the part-timers if they can cope with school work before allowing them to work.

We treat our part-timers as responsible people, and they respect this privilege, and have never abused it.

All of them have shown care to balance their studies and work with responsibility.

A part-time workplace can be a place to make new friends, share dreams, discuss problems - personal, family or academic - build character, or simply a place to de-stress from studies.

It all boils down to a positive and responsible attitude towards part-time work - by both the students and employers.

Philip Wong Wai Chuan