Discontinuation of Hardship Scheme for Hawkers

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what are the reasons for the discontinuation since 1989 of subsidised stalls under the Government's hardship scheme in markets/hawker centres managed by NEA; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider reinstating this scheme.

Under the old Hardship Scheme, vacant hawker stalls were offered to those experiencing financial hardship at subsidised rent. However, the take-up rate was low as most hardship cases preferred to hold out for a vacant stall only in the more popular centres. Due to its limited effectiveness, this scheme was discontinued in 1990. Today, anyone can bid for vacant hawker stalls which the National Environment Agency puts up for tender every month.

There are no plans to reinstate the scheme. To be successful and sustain a hawker stall, a hawker requires entrepreneurship and passion, no different from any business. It would, therefore, make more sense to let those who are genuinely interested in the hawker trade to bid for stalls, as they will have built in both the risks and the gains. It is not tenable to ring-fence a certain number of stalls for those in financial difficulty and believe they will automatically succeed. Those who face financial hardship can seek assistance through the various Government help schemes available.