THE UNPALATABLE facts are these: Food prices are increasing worldwide because of factors like war and climate change. That is why you are paying more for your cai fan and nasi padang these days.
So while diners shouldn’t go hungry, neither should hawkers!
Food ingredient prices now make up over 50 to 60 per cent of each hawker’s costs because of these global factors. Singapore’s hawkers do not make much profit with each individual plate — only about 30 to 40 cents. This is even after the PAP Government makes sure that stall rentals in hawker centres are stabilized and affordable. A recent NEA study showed that such stall rentals do not make up more than 10% of operating costs.
As hawker representatives Melvin Chew and Darren Teo said when they went to see Senior Minister of State for the Environment Koh Poh Koon this past week (8 Nov), hawker costs are high and there is an “obvious manpower crunch” which limits the number of plates a hawker can shift.
For PAP leaders like SMS Koh, as well as MPs Ang Wei Neng (West Coast GRC) and Edward Chia (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), all these facts, real concerns as well as the competing needs of hawkers and diners are a recipe for balanced action.
Their action ranges from legislation which increases manpower and keeps rents stable, to on-the-ground efforts which support all parties in local neighbourhoods.
More manpower and lower rentals
Source: Koh Poh Koon / Facebook
Such legislation goes a long way towards providing a conducive operating environment for Singapore’s hawkers.
“The income of hawkers is very much dependent on how many meals they can serve a day, especially during peak hours,” said SMS Koh in Parliament this Wednesday (13 Nov). “There is only so much one pair of hands can do.”
“At Parliament last month, I had announced that starting from 1 January 2025, NEA will allow hawkers to hire Long Term Visit Pass [LTVP] or LTVP+ holders with Letter of Consent [LOC] or Pre-approved LOC to work as their stall assistants at NEA [National Environment Agency]-managed hawker centres and NEA-appointed operators, regardless of familial ties,” added SMS Koh.
This means that hawkers can serve up more plates and profits, while still keeping the local character of Singapore’s hawker centres intact for diners.
As for hawker rent, the median rent for cooked food stallholders is around $1,250 monthly, and this has been stable over the past decade. Over 300 stalls were obtained at bids below $100 in the past three years. But even more will be done.
“We will stagger downward adjustment of tendered rent over a longer period, over two tenancy renewals instead of one. Doing so serves to deter prospective hawkers from submitting unrealistic bids,” said SMS Koh.
He also said another point of deterrence will involve adjusting stall rental after three years to 50 per cent of the difference between bid price and assessed market rate (AMR), not immediately to market rate as currently.
There is also no expectation that hawkers in social enterprise hawker centres (SEHCs) make a loss with the budget meals they sell, added SMS Koh. These SEHC operators can propose price revisions. If viable and affordable, the National Environment Agency will consider these revisions.
Helping hawkers and residents in West Coast and Bukit Panjang
Seven of our MPs spoke up in Parliament on the hawker issue as well. There was a common refrain: That it takes a whole-of-society approach including government policies to corporate initiatives to consumer attitudes to support our hawkers.
Source: Ang Wei Neng, Edward Chia / Facebook
MPs Ang Wei Neng and Edward Chia were among the PAP MPs who made their views known — and who are pitching in on the ground on the hawker issue. They are making sure that more hawker meals benefit more in their neighbourhoods.
“Many of us have local schemes to help our residents better cope with the rising cost of living. In Nanyang division for example, blue CHAS card holders can apply for multiple $1 breakfast vouchers to exchange for a $3 breakfast set from two main coffee shops at Blk 815 and 959 Jurong West,” said MP Ang. “At Ayer Rajah-Gek Poh, low-income residents receive $50 WeCare vouchers monthly, donated by well-wishers, to spend at local shops, including hawker centres.”
“In Zhenghua, we’ve also introduced $1 Deals as part of our local initiatives. Every month, Zhenghua residents can purchase $1 Deals, and in December alone, nearly 1,000 hawker meals were sold at just $1 each,” said MP Chia. “Hawkers receive the full value of the meal as our community funds top up the difference.”
MP Chia also spoke to clarify and amend an Opposition motion on supporting hawkers. He wanted the Government to continue its support for hawkers, and that the Motion better help hawkers earn their livelihoods.
| Amended Motion on Hawker Culture |
|---|
| This House calls on the Government to continue its support for hawkers by regularly reviewing its policies relating to hawkers and the management of hawker centres to sustain and grow Singapore’s hawker culture so that Singaporeans can continue to enjoy good and affordable hawker food while ensuring hawkers can make a fair livelihood. |
Parliament passed this enhanced, amended Motion. This is a step towards strengthening Singapore’s social compact, helping hawkers make a living, while maintaining the affordability of hawker food for Singaporeans.
