Singapore's hawker culture faces an uncertain future, with significant risks posed by an aging workforce, lack of successors, and the physically demanding, long hours of the trade. While UNESCO recognition and government support provide crucial boosts, fundamental challenges remain, such as rising costs, negative stereotypes about the profession, and a societal preference for white-collar jobs. For it to truly survive and thrive, permanent changes addressing these underlying economic and social issues are needed, rather than just symbolic gestures.
Singapore prides itself on its world-renowned hawker culture, inscribing it on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. But decades of culinary expertise are at risk of fading, as experienced hawkers gradually retire and fewer new hawkers join the scene.
To further raise awareness on hawker culture, festivals and programmes have been held, such as the Singapore Heritage Festival, and annual Singapore Day, which all aim to spotlight and celebrate local hawkers and their efforts.
What are the challenges faced by the hawkers in Singapore?
Hawkers face numerous challenges, chief among them being rising costs of manpower and raw materials. Some hawkers report operating costs exceeding S$10,000 per month.
How much does it cost to set up a hawker stall in Singapore?
Based on current market prices, you can expect to spend anywhere from $10,000 to $12,000 on setting up your hawker stall. Once your stall is up and running, you'll also need to factor in monthly operating costs. These include rent, table cleaning services, refuse disposal, raw materials, and staff salaries.
2 Hawkers are the key custodians of the Hawker Culture in Singapore. However, with the median age of hawkers at 60 years old, it is important to grow the pool of hawkers and sustain the hawker trade for future generations.
A hawker is a vendor of merchandise that can be easily transported; the term is roughly synonymous with costermonger or peddler. In most places where the term is used, a hawker sells inexpensive goods, handicrafts, or food items.
Is Singapore the only country with hawker centres?
A hawker centre (simplified Chinese: 小贩中心; traditional Chinese: 小販中心), or cooked food centre (Chinese: 熟食中心), is an often open-air complex commonly found in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
The majority of meals in hawker centres tend to be high in calories, trans fat, saturated fat, sodium, and even sugar and low in fibre and lean protein.
Why is cash still king for some hawkers in Singapore despite digitalisation push?
“They prefer to hold physical cash as they feel comfortable and safe, knowing nothing can go wrong when the cash is with them,” said Mr Tan, who is chairman of the Chinatown Complex Hawkers' Association. “It gives them a sense of security.”
Hawker Culture in Singapore was successfully inscribed as Singapore's first element on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 16 Dec 2020. The Intergovernmental Committee unanimously gave their support towards the inscription of Hawker Culture in Singapore.
So what is a hawker? If you come across the old occupation “hawker” or “street hawker,” then your ancestor was a travelling salesperson or peddler. In essence, he or she sold goods, often door-to-door or at markets.
Dating as far back as the 1800s, hawker culture in Singapore originated from the early migrant population selling quick, affordable meals on street pavements, in town squares and parks – wherever they could set up their makeshift stalls.
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At present, only Singapore citizens and permanent residents can be stallholders or work as stall assistants in the 121 hawker centres and markets managed by NEA and its operators.
Hawkers do not have permanent shops whereas shop owners have permanent shops. They generally sell a product like vegetables and fruits. Their income levels are less than that of shop owners. Even the expenses (like rent electricity, wages to workers, etc.)
Hawkers operate individual stalls, selling food and beverages in places such as Hawker centres or food courts. Hawkers are also Entrepreneurs, possessing basic business skills such as budgeting, pricing and Marketing.
Yes, you can sell homemade food in Singapore, but you must first obtain a food shop or hawker licence from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). You must also comply with all food safety and hygiene regulations.
