New programme to attract aspiring hawkers aims to plug gaps of previous initiatives

SINGAPORE — Admitting that past efforts to boost the hawker trade have not been effective, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung on Monday (Jan 20) said that he hopes the latest training programme will address the gaps of previous initiatives and attract more new hawkers to the field.

He was speaking at the official launch of the Hawkers’ Development Programme which was developed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).

Announced last year, it aims to train 100 aspiring hawkers over the next three years through training and mentorship. 

Mr Ong said that he hopes the latest programme will address some of the gaps of previous initiatives which included one programme he had overseen when he was the chief executive at Singapore Workforce Development Agency, the precursor to the Workforce Singapore Agency, over a decade ago.

He also cited the Hawker Master Trainer Pilot Programme launched in 2013, which was a collaboration between the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and NEA for trainees to learn culinary skills from hawker veterans, as an initiative which did not succeed in boosting hawker numbers.

“Many of these programmes have been launched in the past but none of these programmes gave the push needed by the hawker trade,” said Mr Ong.

“(The) issue is not just a matter of teaching cooking skills. We need to address the deterrents of long hours, hard work, and business risks.” 

The new programme has three stages to it. 

The first stage involves a five-day training course by Nanyang Polytechnic’s Asian Culinary Institute to learn about issues such as food safety and hygiene and fundamental cooking techniques. 

Participants will also learn digital skills such as establishing their presence on social media platforms and food delivery mobile applications.

The course, which is open to both aspiring and existing hawkers, cost S$500 for Singaporeans and permanent residents, and may be subsidised under SkillsFuture.

Hawkers may also sign up for an optional one-day module on popular hawker recipes such as carrot cake and chwee kueh (steamed rice cake), in addition to the five-day course.

In the second stage, aspiring hawkers will be attached to experienced hawkers at their stalls for two months where they can learn the ropes.

Once they have completed the first two stages, aspiring hawkers may apply for a stall under NEA’s Incubation Stall Programme, which provides an average rental rebate of 40 per cent for pre-fitted stalls for a period of 15 months. During this period, they may test the feasibility of their business plans under the guidance of their mentors.

Mr Ong said that the new programme aims to “translate the organic passion that exists for hawker food into greater participation in the hawker trade”.

Speaking to reporters at the launch event, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State (Environment and Water Resources), said previous programmes were evaluated and improved upon to create the Hawker Development Programme. 

She added that hawkers had also given feedback that they want mentorship and guidance from veteran hawkers in areas such as their experience in running hawker stalls and their culinary practices and this is addressed through structured entrepreneurship and mentorship for the first time. 

Dr Khor acknowledged that it is not easy for people to enter the hawker trade and that the NEA has taken steps to reduce barriers to entry.

This includes having pre-fitted stalls in hawker centres to reduce the upfront costs for new hawkers and rental rebates to give them time to build up their clientele. 

Details of the course are available on NEA’s website and with the first intake starting in April.