Part of the reason was that she had known government jobs to be “iron rice bowls”, a Chinese term for occupations with guaranteed job security. Asean Intelligence Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia Get the free reportThat rarity has reinforced the belief that public service jobs are iron rice bowls. But if contract hiring is standard practice, is the idea of the public-sector iron rice bowl outdated? “The idea of the public service as an ‘iron rice bowl’ has gradually changed,” says the general manager at recruitment agency Cornerstone Global Partners (CGP). “Instead of ‘iron rice bowl’ jobs, perhaps we could pivot our thoughts to how to be ‘iron talents’.”