Engagement with Sungei Road vendors will continue

We thank Mr Koh Eng Khoon for his letter “Elderly Sungei Road vendors need more help” (April 11).

On April 3, the Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources said the Government will be reaching out to the other users at the Sungei Road Hawking Zone who are not original permit holders, to share information on financial and employment assistance, as well as channels through which they can continue their trade, should they wish to do so.

From April 6 to 9, the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Workforce Singapore and Central Singapore Community Development Council conducted one-on-one engagements with these users on-site. We reached out to about 200 users.

A sizeable number indicated that they were interested in taking up lock-up stalls at hawker centres or continuing their trade in places such as temporary flea markets.

Some had indicated their wish to apply for financial and/or employment assistance if they cannot continue their trade.

The respective agencies will follow up closely with these users individually to engage them further in the various options in which they had expressed interest.

The NEA and the Ministry of National Development have responded to the Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods over the past month that it is more appropriate to allow such street trades to continue only in designated venues such as temporary flea markets, rather than on a permanent basis, to minimise disamenities to the public.

The Sungei Road Hawking Zone will not be relocated, and the last day of operation will be on July 10. The site will thereafter be used for ground preparation works to facilitate future residential development use.

This letter is sent on behalf of the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Workforce Singapore and Central Singapore Community Development Council.