Hawkers’ issues addressed, except 2.5x increase in costs?

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November 9, 2018

This can only happen in Singapore – address hawkers’ issues, except the biggest one – costs? 

I refer to the article “New rules for social enterprise hawker centres from Jan 1, including standard termination notice: NEA” (Straits Times, Nov 9).

It states that “Stallholders at social enterprise hawker centres (SEHCs) may operate five days a week and terminate their tenancies with no more than two months’ notice to operators from Jan 1, 2019, the National Environment Agency (NEA) announced on Friday (Nov 9).

These and other changes will provide a standard “playbook” that the SEHCs need to abide by and give NEA more oversight regarding the ways these hawker centres are run, said the agency.

The adjustments involve key areas such as stall operation days and hours, termination notice periods and security deposits.”

Arguably, the biggest problem that the hawkers have, is not addressed at all – the increased costs charged to the hawkers.

Looking at the total fees of $2,509 now (total $4,117 – rental $1,608)– does it mean that the percentage increase from the average fees in 2012/2013, is about 2.5 times ($2,509 now divided by $1,000 in 2012/2013), before the Budget debate in 2012′s announcement that public cleaning will be under the new Department of Cleanliness (DPC) under the NEA?

Leong Sze Hian

 

 

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.