A government proposal to transfer management duties of four hawker centres to a social enterprise model has left some hawkers feeling uneasy over their future. The model dictates that “each centre’s operating surplus will be shared among its stakeholders, such as the hawkers, manager and NEA”. Hawkers are afraid that this will increase their operating costs or rent. Other restrictions such as the prevention of unilaterally raising food prices have riled some hawkers. With rising costs fears, will this affect hawkers in closing their shops, thereby ending our culture of hawker food?
By Carmen Lim
By Michael Favila
By Zann Ling
