Forum: Initiatives must benefit both hawkers and customers

Minister Ong Ye Kung’s clarification that stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre will not face penalties for not providing meals to low-income residents is welcome news (

Ong Ye Kung rebuts complaints about treatment of stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre,

Aug 11). The episode underscores a deeper point: good intentions alone are not enough.

For any initiative to succeed, it must translate into tangible benefits for both hawkers and customers. Hawkers are already facing significant pressures – rising rents, higher ingredient costs, and intense competition from larger, better-resourced players. At the same time, customers expect genuine value and accessibility, especially for initiatives meant to improve affordability.

Take for example some hawker centres operated by the FairPrice Group. While they are commendable for including “budget meal” options in their menus, these meals are often unavailable when customers try to order, and some stalls that are actually operating are not reflected in their app listing.

If the aim is to make affordable options widely accessible, then such offerings must be reliably available and clearly communicated to customers. When policies are rolled out, they should be designed with mutual benefit at their core.

For hawkers, this means ensuring schemes do not increase operational strain or reduce income potential.

For customers, it means making promised benefits actually achievable in practice. Otherwise, initiatives risk being perceived as token gestures rather than meaningful improvements.

Hawker culture is a cornerstone of Singapore’s identity, built on the hard work of stallholders and the everyday enjoyment of diners. It thrives when both sides are supported and respected.

Josephine Lim Teo Hwee