Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) in the last 10 years, how many street hawking licences have been issued for streetside ice-cream vendors; (b) how many of these vendors are still active today; (c) whether the licences from the inactive vendors may be transferred to new applicants; and (d) how much longer will streetside ice-cream vendors be allowed to exist.
The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Koh Poh Koon) (for the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment): The Street Hawking Scheme is intended to provide temporary assistance for unemployed individuals who are assessed to be best supported through a street hawking licence, rather than other financial assistance or employment matching schemes offered by a Social Service Office. All street hawking licences are therefore personal-to-holder and are non-transferable.
In the past decade, 21 licences were issued under the Street Hawking Scheme for the sale of ice cream. Of these, 11 remained active as of January this year.
Mr Speaker: Mr Giam.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. I understand that street hawking licence cost about $120 a year. Can I ask the Senior Minister of State what is the rational for this quantum because it is a considerable amount for some low-income hawkers and can the Ministry consider lowering it? And secondly, what is the actual eligibility criteria for these licences? Are they only given to those who are financially needy?
Dr Koh Poh Koon: Sir, I think the first question on the $120 per year – this is really on a cost-recovery basis for administration. It is not really to make life hard for these hawkers because there is enforcement needed and there are also licensing requirements and the administration that needs to be done.
On the eligibility, as I said in my main reply, the consideration is based on the fact that these people are not suitable for other forms of employment, or it is assessed by the Social Service Office as the most appropriate means to help them tide over a temporary period. But the longer-term intent, is for them to enter a good job where there are better job prospects. So, in the meantime, this is a temporary measure to help them tide over a rough patch.
Mr Speaker: Mr Giam.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: Sir, on a separate point: does the Ministry see any cultural value in street hawking? For example, ice cream sellers. It is something that is part of our shared heritage and something that we all remember from when we were growing up. Is that something that the Ministry will consider letting to continue or even grow besides providing just a financial support for these hawkers?
Dr Koh Poh Koon: Sir, I thank Mr Giam for his question. I think the fundamental question is this: for a person who may be in financial need, the first question we ask ourselves is, “What is the best way to support them for longer-term financial stability?”
In present day Singapore, we do have hawker centres and we are building more hawker centres. For those who want to take on hawking as a longer-term job that they want to do, it probably will be better for them to be in a hawker centre where there are better facilities and for them to have a more fixed customer catchment.
Having said that, it is true that ice cream at certain locations can help to liven up the place. This is where if there are funfairs or there are trade fairs, there are still people who are then given licences to participate in trade fairs to add to the festivity. But I would say that, fundamentally, the first question is to see how best we can help them to find a better career, where there are better job prospects for the longer term, and career stability.
Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment
28 February 2024
https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=oral-answer-3489
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 