Hawkers in Singapore welcomed the recent announcement to ease hiring restrictions on long-term visit pass (LTVP) holders, but many remain skeptical about the move significantly alleviating the persistent manpower crunch within the industry.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) disclosed on Monday its decision to allow hawkers to hire LTVP holders approved to work in Singapore as stall assistants starting from January 1. The current regulations mandate that only Singapore citizens and permanent residents can operate stalls or work as stall assistants in hawker centers managed by NEA and its appointed operators. Despite this, there is some flexibility, as stallholders are permitted to appoint their LTVP or LTVP-Plus holder spouses as their stall assistants.
According to CNA, local hawkers have cited the immense difficulty in finding Singaporean or PR workers to join the industry, emphasizing the arduous nature of the work and the harsh environment.
Ms. Elayne Ang, owner of a chicken rice stall at Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre, expressed her struggle in finding full-time Singaporean or PR workers, stating, “It’s not easy to hire full-time Singaporean or PR workers because it’s a back-breaking job and the environment can be harsh, so there’s definitely a stigma (with working in hawker centres).”
Similarly, Mr. Richard Toh, who operates a stall at Newton Food Centre, expressed his challenges in finding new workers, affirming that younger and middle-aged Singaporeans are disinclined to work long hours in such an environment.
The easing of LTVP hiring restrictions has been perceived as a positive step forward by many hawkers, such as Mr. Jimmy Teo, owner of a bak chor mee stall at Commonwealth Crescent Market and Food Centre. Mr. Teo underscored how this policy change would broaden the pool of available workers and potentially mitigate the high staff turnover rate experienced in the industry.
However, the hawkers remain very careful about the potential impact of this move. Even with the annual Population in Brief report saying that LTVP holders and dependant pass holders account for 16% of Singapore’s non-resident population, some hawkers, including Mr. Teo, expressed skepticism about whether the new policy would sufficiently address the ongoing manpower shortage or not.
Some also called for additional measures to tackle rising costs, aligning with a recent study by the Singapore Department of Statistics, which revealed a 6.1% increase in hawker food prices in 2023 – the highest rise since 2008.
Hawkers have reiterated that while the relaxation of hiring policies is a step in the right direction, more comprehensive changes are necessary. Ms. Ang emphasized the need for patrons to be more willing to pay higher prices for hawker food in order to sustain the industry, stating, “Hawker food is definitely a craft that people need to recognize the value of, but because people still want to expect low prices of S$2 to S$3, a lot of hawkers are not able to continue.”
While the cautious optimism among hawkers regarding the recent hiring policy alteration is palpable, the industry remains cognizant of the need for a more holistic approach in tackling their labour challenges and escalating costs.
The efficacy of the revised policy in addressing these issues remains to be seen, as hawkers emphasize the necessity for broader societal changes to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the hawker culture.
