To keep prices affordable, help hawkers improve cost management skills

I refer to the report “Hawker food prices up by 10-20%: CASE poll” (Oct 21).

About two months ago, I read a report by a research student who postulated that “hawker food is too cheap”. The student, who studied about 100 hawkers, further concluded that low profitability was a significant cause of the danger of hawker centres becoming extinct. She suggested also that perhaps hawker centres could be opened to foreigners to operate.

From the inception of street hawkers in the 1950s till today, hawkers have made a successful living here. They have been allowed the freedom to evolve through hard work and ingenuity to garner a faithful crowd of customers over the years.

The survey by Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) reinforces the need to distinguish the character and community purpose of hawker centres from food courts and restaurants.

Hawker centres have a social and cultural impact on the everyday lives of the ordinary people in the heartlands and in parts of the city. A majority of their customers are pioneer generation folk like me, workers, students, housewives and children who find it a boon to buy lunch or dinner at an affordable price.

The National Environment Agency has recognised the importance of keeping prices at such food centres as affordable as possible and its support is greatly appreciated.

While hawkers may not be able to control costs, they could learn some tips from those who can still sell their food below the mode, or most common, price.

I know of a decent chicken rice stall in Ang Mo Kio that sells it for S$2.50 a plate, and the stall is always busy. Maybe the stallholder should share his best practices with those who are complaining that they need to increase their prices.

Keeping in mind the intrinsic value of hawker centres and their contribution to social vibrancy, especially the heartlands, the Government could help hawkers improve their productivity and cost management skills.

This would not only help keep hawker food prices affordable, but also ensure this icon of Singapore’s unique culture will continue to flourish.

I am sure they will continue to evolve as long as the Singapore spirit is retained.