SINGAPORE: During the parliamentary sitting on 14 October, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Koh Poh Koon, announced a policy change aimed at addressing the manpower challenges faced by hawkers.

Effective 1 January 2025, hawker stalls will be allowed to hire long-term visit pass (LTVP) holders as stall assistants.

Currently, only Singapore citizens and permanent residents are eligible for such positions in NEA-managed hawker centres.

This policy relaxation will enable LTVP holders with approved work rights, particularly those with familial connections to hawkers, to serve as assistants.

SMS Koh reiterated that the high tender prices in hawker centres managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) are exceptions rather than the norm.

He emphasised NEA’s ongoing review of its policies to ensure the system remains effective while keeping hawker food prices affordable.

Dr Koh revealed that in 2023, one in five cooked food stalls were tendered at or below S$500 per month.

The median successful tender price for cooked food stalls decreased from S$2,000 in 2022 to S$1,800 in 2023.

While higher bids were observed in popular locations, they do not reflect overall trends. The NEA conducts monthly tender exercises, which Dr Koh characterised as “transparent and fair.”

Dr Koh’s comments were made in response to parliamentary questions from Melvin Yong, PAP MP for Radin Mas SMC.

Mr Yong inquired about the median rent for hawker stalls over the past two years, the potential for NEA to review the tenancy period to mitigate disproportionately high bids, and whether a ballot model with fixed rental rates had been considered.

In July, a bid of S$10,158 was submitted for a vacant stall at Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre, the second-highest for the unit and reportedly the highest bid for a hawker stall in six years.

Of the top five bids for the Marine Parade stall, the highest bid of S$10,680 was withdrawn, with three others exceeding S$8,000.

MP Yong Warns High Rental Bids Could Trigger Ripple Effect on Food Prices

Mr Yong later in a supplementary question further raised concerns that some new hawkers, after placing high rental bids, may increase food prices to cover costs.

This, he said, could lead to other hawkers raising their prices, creating a ripple effect. He suggested the ministry implement a system, similar to the HDB resale portal, to alert prospective bidders when their bids exceed the median rent in the same hawker centre by 10%.

In response, Dr Koh said the ministry did not track food price increases in hawker centres with high rental bids but suggesting that market competition would naturally moderate prices.

He argued that hawkers with high rents would still need to offer competitive prices to attract customers and sustain their businesses.

He emphasized that excessive rental bids were outliers, and the majority of hawker centres continued to offer affordable food.

Dr Koh also supported the idea of improving transparency by providing detailed rental data on NEA’s website, helping bidders make more informed decisions.

MP for Bukit Panjang SMC Liang Eng Hwa noted that disproportionately high rents could undermine the original intent of hawker centres, which is to provide affordable food.

He suggested that NEA conduct due diligence on bidders, assessing their financial capacity to sustain high rental levels.

Dr Koh acknowledged the concern but cautioned against imposing stringent requirements that could disadvantage smaller hawkers.

He emphasised that hawker centres are competitive environments, and the market would filter out those unable to sustain their bids.

He reiterated that high rents affect only a small number of stalls, while most still offer affordable prices.

Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament from Progress Singapore Party (PSP), raised the possibility of further liberalizing manpower policies to allow work permit holders to be employed in hawker stalls, referencing the mini restaurant licence scheme that allows some hawkers in coffee shops and food courts to hire such workers.

In response, Dr Koh stated that there were no immediate plans to allow work permit holders to work in hawker stalls. He stressed the importance of preserving the local hawker culture, which is primarily run by Singaporeans.

While LTVP holders can work in hawker stalls due to their familial connections, extending this to work permit holders is not being considered.

Instead, the focus remains on helping hawkers adopt more productive methods to reduce reliance on manpower, he added.

SINGAPORE: A video showing contractors hired by the National Parks Board (NParks) laying chicken traps has ignited controversy online.

The incident occurred in the Cactus estate, located in Yio Chu Kang.

The video, first uploaded on 9 October to the Facebook group Singapore Wildlife Sightings, shows two men in green vests kneeling on a grass patch and setting up what appeared to be traps for wild chickens.

According to the original post, the contractors were responding to complaints from local residents.

In response to media inquiries from MS News, Mr How Choon Beng, NParks’ Group Director of Wildlife Management, confirmed that both NParks and the Cheng San Grassroots Organisation had received numerous complaints about free-ranging chickens in the Cactus and Sunrise estates over the past year.

The complaints cited issues related to disturbances caused by the chickens, referred to as “dis-amenities.”

Mr How explained that NParks is currently conducting “population management measures” to address the growing number of chickens in the area.

He emphasized that NParks adopts a science- and community-based approach to managing animal populations, including free-ranging chickens.

These efforts include studying the birds’ population ecology, conducting biosurveillance programs, and implementing a variety of management strategies such as public education and habitat modification.

Mr How noted, “There is no one-size-fits-all management approach when it comes to addressing the multi-faceted issues related to free-ranging chickens.”

In addition, NParks collaborates with Grassroots Organisations to promote best practices in population control and engages residents by sharing tips on managing disturbances caused by the chickens, including the removal of eggs.

NParks also reminded the public to avoid feeding the chickens, as this contributes to their overpopulation and exacerbates the problem.

Netizens criticize NParks for trapping and culling wild chickens

Under an MS News Facebook post, many netizens expressed their opposition to the trapping and culling of wild chickens, arguing that they are harmless creatures.

Some users commented that they enjoy the presence of chickens, as they contribute to a “kampong” atmosphere in the neighbourhood.

One user mentioned that it is always nice to see chickens roaming around, helping to create that nostalgic vibe of home.

Another user shared their fondness for the sight of chickens, stating it feels reminiscent of the kampong days.

They suggested that instead of targeting chickens, NParks should focus on managing more disruptive animals like pigeons and otters, which can be a nuisance.

Several commenters questioned why NParks would catch harmless chickens while allowing other animals that pose more significant issues, like otters and pigeons, to remain unchecked.

One user criticized NParks for wasting time on chickens, emphasizing that they do not pose any threat to the public, unlike otters or wild boars that have attacked people.

Another commenter pointed out that chickens play a role in controlling harmful insects and pests, while otters contribute to the removal of pet fish in local ponds.

Others urged NParks to prioritize addressing the pressing issues posed by crows and pigeons rather than focusing on roaming chickens.

Many argued that NParks should aim to preserve nature by leaving harmless chickens alone and managing genuine pests instead.

A frustrated user criticized the authorities for succumbing to complaints rather than making decisions based on what is right.

They recalled a personal experience at Alexandra Village hawker centre, where they admired a group of wild chickens with a Malaysian worker, only to learn that authorities planned to cull them due to complaints.

One user questioned the nature of these complaints, urging NParks to clarify what is so problematic about having chickens in the neighbourhood.

They argued that these animals are harmless, self-sufficient, and do not bother humans.

As urban development continues to encroach on their natural habitats, many believe it is unjust to deny them the right to coexist with people in their own neighbourhoods.