How sustainable is it for Singapore hawkers to offer budget meals? | Deep Dive podcast

[@jwcas318]

The moment the government decided they need to make a nice profit from something that Singaporeans depended on daily for their 3 meals, it's the end of Singaporeans treasured way of life & cultural pride. It's always profit over social responsibilities and here we are now unable to undo decades of damage. 😢😢😢

[@bruneilange4161]

Hawker stall rental, salary of workers,Pub bills, purchase of ingredients but what about the boss salary and then his home also needs money.for children.So People need to understand otherwise eat at home.

[@stephenloh-j5z]

@jwcas318 and it's happening now isn't it? NOL and now NTUC insurance....commoners are going in for a rough right unless more oppositions are voted in to curb the 'suka suka' policies

[@danieltay3679]

This is a good topic but as usual we are not being honest here by not addressing the elephant in the room. Amy khor clealy stated that Rental at hakwer centres do not affect food price directly. But we are hearing otherwise from the hawker. So why nobody address this at all during the show? Who is right? Our minister or the hawker on the ground? Or are we going to be nice again and say everyone is correct?

[@nicholasgoh3526]

You expect MSM like CNA to address the elephant in the room? They are more likely to try to justify why the elephant is in the room.

[@BrianPatrick-s6b]

Just check statistics singapore household spent 24% over 1000 dollars per month on food and 2/3 on eating out fast food restaurants hawker centre...increases in price for all hurts

[@jefri4176]

As someone who work in food and beverage, rental play very big part on food price. The usual guideline is around like this depending on the type of f&b,vary from hawker to cafe and fast food. Optimum be like : Cogs(cost of good sold - raw material) - 30% Rental - 20% Utilities and etc -10% Labour cost 20% Profit 20% Any increase in any of those category will increase the price. Hawker also want to get rich and want to stay in condo or drive car 🤣😅

[@DS91284]

"Nice" doesn't solve anything really.

[@danieltay3679]

@@DS91284 it does... sweep everything under the carpet and ppl in power continues the same narrative again and again...

[@Anyone-yd9ju]

Our govt and these people here are rich or come from wealthy families. They will never understand what it is like to be poor. I have seen those budget meals, all processed and unhealthy food. They will cause more harm than good. You sacrifice true blue Singaporeans to build a wealthy nation.

[@s._3560]

They are disconnected from the average Singaporean. No social cohesion when they don't feel their fates or well-being are interconnected with the rest of the society.

[@HHTay-f7m]

16:15 it's only $0.50😂

[@sanskou]

The original mission of hawker culture was to feed the masses. So if salaries of the masses aren't rising together with the cost of living, how are you going to tell people that eating a $8 bowl of noodle is justified. We were once a poor nation, and we know how to cut back our expenses. So then hawker food becomes an alternative for the society, not a staple. I find it funny that we have to glorify our hawker culture. Just look at the hawker/street food culture in the Asia region, they can survive pretty well because the lack of rent burden and many other factors. But if we have to try so hard to justify and sell to Singaporeans how good our culture is, then there must be something wrong in the process.

[@LordBlazer-sg9wy]

8 dollar for prawn mee is reasonable? How obscene are salaries of cna reporters nowsadays?

[@celestialstar124]

@@LordBlazer-sg9wy Steve said $15 is ok for him 😂

[@veekwok5611]

People who go for budget meals are usually not the well-to-do families. They are not cheapskates. How many people can affod to eat "Avocado on Toast" for $20?

[@Chsiah88]

I don’t even know there is such thing avocado on toast for $20,shock me

[@celestialstar124]

@@veekwok5611 i never ate avocado in my entire life 😅 and sorry i won't be paying $20 for any toast. Not even in restaurant. I rather pay $100 for a steak than $20 for toast as everything got a certain price value in my heart. Toast are just toast and i can make at home easily

[@brackpersian]

JUST FREAKING LOWER THE RENT and this podcast is not needed

[@jinsoonchin5205]

Honestly speaking, sad to say that Singapore hawker food has become more expensive and, at the same time, quality has degraded. Basically, due to cutting corners.

[@s._3560]

If they cut any more corners to maintain the price, there will be no meat left but only carbohydrates in the bowl. As it is now, the portions of meat are pathetically little compared to other countries.

[@nicklee7002]

Ban subletting of hawker stalls.

[@celestialstar124]

Yes

[@fabianthio4011]

Yes was abt to say that.

[@ktan6738]

Not that much, is the rich landlords. Rising rents n bidding higher to buy property n spaces.

[@celestialstar124]

@@ktan6738 hwaker centre is bid by stall owners but some stall owners sub let to others at a much higher price tag. My grandmother is 50 years hwaker and her hwaker stall at Bukit merah is less than 2k a month. My grandmother say it really depend how smart the stall owner bid. But of course if someone rich decide to sabo by outbid the stall owner for that stall then they got the stall. As long stall owner ask around and bid reasonably then it's not that bad.

[@Danderman888]

That elephant in the room is very real. Property prices and rentals as a result of are bigger contributing factors than most realise. It's not just the rentals hawkers have to pay, but the rental costs to suppliers and other related industries that contribute to the whole unaffordability of hawker food these days. The bottom line is that we need to accept that the cost of living, including cheap hawker food, has to inflate as a result. That is inevitable. But to still want to claim that our hawker food should still be viewed as part of our national effort to maintain social enterprise is disengenuous. If we can't strike a balance, then let's at least be honest that we, like the rest of the capitalist world, are losing the battle of holding back the tide of rising poverty in our respective nations.

[@wowokingxoxo]

@Danderman888 that is fatalist = the memed ah soh who shakes her head and says no solution. The biggest landlord is the government who has been voted in by people who deserved what they voted for.high prices.

[@vincecarlo]

Thanks to 9% GST NOW Food PRICES Gone UP⬆️ by Ave 30%

[@vzprintonline]

Coffee shops and hawker centres are meant to primarily serve the nearby HDB residents, who are mostly low-income Singaporeans. Therefore, the food prices should not be exorbitant, and the government should regulate this. It would be beneficial for branded stores to consider opening their outlets in food courts, where customers are willing to pay higher prices for an air-conditioned environment. Recently, the coffee shops near my place have rented most of their outlets to stores with very high prices (average $7 and above), with only 2-3 old stores still selling at lower prices. I believe these lower-priced stores will eventually transition to higher prices as well. I can't opt to eat at the same 2-3 low-priced stores every day; I will get sick of it. Sometimes I can get very depressed about what to eat. Sometimes I end up not eating at all. My monthly meal expenses have now increased by more than 50% because of it. If I want to eat better food once in a while, I can go to the shopping centre and eat at the food courts or restaurants. However, coffee shops and hawker centres should maintain lower prices as they cater to low-income Singaporeans for their daily meals.

[@ivangim1]

Retail food prices in coffeeshops are directly influenced by costs in monthly rental, basic ingredients, miscellaneous charges, and earnings that make sense to operate a foodstall. At $3.50 a dish x 100 servings/day = $350 x 26 = $9,100/month. If the coffeshop rental is $5,000/month + $1,000 for ingredients & gas, + $1,000 for miscellaneous charges, the profit takeaway of $2,100 is thin. If the coffeeshop rental is $7,000/month, you're better off serving coffee & wiping tables and lead a stress-free life. Earn a small keep and don't have to touch your nest egg. Have a beer once in a while. Be happy & sing.

[@brackpersian]

a profit is still a profit mah ivan... $2100 is still a positive profit. if it is negative then it is worrying. But i concur that yes rental is killer, same opinion as you :)

[@celestialstar124]

These people calling others cheapskate... For a cheapskate who can only afford to eat budget meal 24/7 for the rest of their life are most likely indeed poor. Who doesn't want to eat better if they can afford?

[@fanlee6560]

Cheapsakes are people selling caipng 4 piece thin meat and 1.5 spoon of veg for $5 at ntuc coffeeshop.. 🤣 I think at home eat instant noodle and carrots, more nutrients even, not to say the price.

[@celestialstar124]

@@fanlee6560 instant noodles are never healthy. Maybe kena eat rice with some veg and meat or at least egg to replace meat to be considered as healthy.

[@AlkoYau]

@@celestialstar124 eating outside mean healthy?..u better stay and watch those people cooking and prepare the vegetable before cooking...as long as the NEA didnt caught them...u never know what u eating ...hahahaha

[@celestialstar124]

@@AlkoYau why do i need to stay and watch when my grandmother is a 50 year hwaker. Most importantly just because 1 person do something wrong doesn't mean everyone is like that person. Even personally test show at least 16 main personality type with each 16 got it's own sub variant. What makes you think everyone who cook at home actually wash their hands with soap and wash for at least 20 seconds every time they came out of toilet? There are cleaner who didn't even flush his own house toilet his entire life.

[@Peter-dg9bb]

I cant afford a $3.50 noodle let alone the $5.00 noodle. I am retired, wheelchair bound and employed a helper to take care of me. My retired payout and my renting barely cover my medical and household expense. I believed many single at my age also face the same problem.

[@celestialstar124]

@@Peter-dg9bb indeed there are many in your situation too but some seniors don't use touch screen phone or able to type in English to share their experience with others. Some people even assume poor people doesn't event exist.

[@Kimmilloyd7581]

Hawker food cheap? $10 nasi padang for 1 meat 3 veg. $8.50 nasi briyani. Country of the greeds of coz price gouging everywhere. Propaganda show to justify the high prices!

[@celestialstar124]

@@Kimmilloyd7581 aiyo Steve already said $15 prawn noodles is accept for him. Since he is the host... Of course cheap for him lah

[@ocswoodlands]

food in some coffee shops (not hawker centres) has become significantly more expensive to the point i am finding it cheaper to buy bentos from Fairprice finest... eg i can get 1/2 a saba fish with rice at $5.80 from Fairprice while coffesshops are charging around $6.5 to $7....

[@steventay5834]

Hawker stalls are struggling as more clients are not eating at hawker centre because of high prices.

[@TheMrleeyang]

Then where do they eat when hawker centre is the cheapest food you can get in Singapore on a comparative basis (exclude cooking from home as that is highly variable)

[@steventay5834]

@@TheMrleeyang Now I also eat at the Food Court since prices are marginally higher than those at Hawker centre. Food Court has air conditioning and is cleaner.

[@Clc760]

The rental costs are also adjusted by the Government to ensure that budget meals are provided. It is only the Coffeeshops that bid high and force the stall holders to provide the budget meals. Why should the coffeeshops priority be the shareholders? The priority is the customers and the community. So Shareholders of coffeeshops, you should be expecting less profits. No, $8 for prawn noodle is exorbitant.

[@celestialstar124]

I have seen many of senior citizens counting their coins and in the end decide not to buy a food or drink because they cannot afford. Try strike a conversation with them to find out. They will tell you they no loner work so $1.50 for a cup of drink they can afford, now $1.80 they cannot afford. I usually try to treat them if it's within my budget. 3 out of the 4 people getting interviewed here thinks people are just cheap and assume hwaker food must be cheap. Disappointed that even Steve said this too. 16:30 Steve been reporter for so long with some topic including poor people yet he assume everyone who complains hwaker food are expensive is because they are just cheapskate. He didn't believe there are poor people around.

[@ongweeyan4407]

They want cheap food so the money they save can buy 4D.

[@nicholasgoh3526]

Steve Chia is just an employee of the MSM. Anyone who still has a conscience will never join a MSM here.

[@flowertowerrr]

The reverse is also true no? Just because you met "many" senior citizens who can't afford hawker food doesn't mean everyone is like that. If you don't want to give Steve the benefit of doubt maybe you shouldn't get it too. And he specifically said, someone who CAN afford a 8 dollar meal but choose to be entitled to 4.50$. Way to demonize him for no reason. Oh, I met many senior citizens who think hawker food is so cheap. They buy me food all the time after I strike a conversation with them and we have a fulfilling discussion thereafter.

[@celestialstar124]

@@flowertowerrr all i did is pointing out that there are poor citizens in Singapore that cannot afford. Don't worry your entire household including you will eventually get old and stop working. Hope by that time you guys can finally understand how poor people are? Oh i forget some people just die young before they got the ability to grow enough empathy 😂

[@flowertowerrr]

@celestialstar124 all I did was point out the flaws in your thinking. Clearly, some people have a bias for BS and you are one of them. Your other comments about me are irrelevant to the topic at hand but feel free to hurl more nonsense if it makes u feel better. Let me help. I'm poor, bitter and have no family. Hope you feel good now

[@steventay5834]

Food price increases: 1) Higher rent 2) PAP uplift the salaries of cleaner, security guard, etc.. 3) GST 4) Increased costs of goods 5) Increase in utilities bill Etc...

[@RealRick0408]

Inflation?

[@steventay5834]

@@RealRick0408 These are the factors that cause prices to increase (inflation)

[@martinbrock713]

Instead of supportive measures, Mr Seetoh argued that the government introduced more restrictive and punitive rules and increased operational costs for hawkers.

[@jer2911.L]

@martinbrock713 Seetoh is full of rubbish. Everything for his own agenda.

[@massmailing1491]

The minute you take out sub rental, you can control rentals.

[@fanlie1576]

My budget for food from hawker centers is generally capped at around $4. However, I’m open to spending more if the seller is particularly friendly, kind, and not calculative. I also tend to support stalls with fewer customers, especially if they are run by older uncle/aunties who offer food with genuine price. If their prices exceed my usual budget, I’m still willing to make an exception for such cases.

[@JINGMINGCHEN-j1o]

Most Singaporean hawkers do not follow hygienic food practices when preparing food. Look at fried rice, fried noodles, fried chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, they are all filled with little specks of cancer-causing black soot, and our legislators are oblivious. If they had to clean their Chinese woks after every frying operation, they would need to raise their prices to cover the extra time and sanitation work. Maybe our MPs don't eat at hawker centers and that's why they are more interested in talking about budget meals rather than healthy hawker food as the general election is coming soon.

[@JoyJoy_Life]

Recycle oil for frying, hot food , hot drink packaged foam , many unknown sources of ingredients ........all these are cancerous..... Just curious why authorities don't bother.

[@ordinaryobserver897]

Gov should control rental prices at gov manned hawkers centre. Rental does not justify increase esp at current times. Also there are many people who cannot afford meal higher costs.

[@yeotaiwei3554]

Come on if your salary is 2k do you want to pay $8 for a bowl of prawn noodle? It really depends on their salary = to their spending for most.

[@celestialstar124]

Exactly but this 4 people in the video doesn't seems to understand this fact.

[@nicholasgoh3526]

Everything is relative. You find hawker food expensive because your salary is low. Hawkers don’t earn much too and now have to combat inflation without having much leeway to increase prices. CNA should question why our inflation has skyrocketed and why our salaries have remained low and not able to keep up with inflation.

[@xfool]

The government can offer substantial rental subsidies for those hawkers offering budget meals

[@JCzzzzz]

NEA is in charge of rent. Our hawker culture put SG on UNESCO. It is a culture that attracts tourists, gives us national identity, a sense of belonging, takes care of the lower income group etc. Many benefits to keeping this culture alive and thriving. Why can't NEA continue to offer $600 rent for all hawkers in hawker centres? Would the government need to make a profit from our community centres? I think not. Then why can't the government peg the rental at a flat rate with some mandatory guidelines like how often it is opened and the opening hours. Stall owners also cannot rent out their rights to the stall. The hawkers will have to keep prices low, and to keep up with cleanliness and food standards. HDB can also keep costs of coffee shops rental lower so the conglomerates should not be coming in to profit off aspiring hawkers. These conglomerates should be attacking the restaurant business instead. I think it is doable if the government is serious about keeping our hawker culture. This is one facet of live that every Singaporean, young & old, rich or poor, can identify with. Even Maximilian Maeder chose to represent Singapore because chicken rice is better than cheese sandwich!

[@steventay5834]

@JCzzzzz Wow. Impressive. You shall be the next Minister of Social Affairs

[@celestialstar124]

@@JCzzzzz actually hwaker stall price is base on the highest bidder. So technically $600 or even $50 monthly is not impossible. Those stall owner need to not get too high when they bid.

[@ben.s.s]

Most Singaporean don’t mind paying more. But we don’t want the landlord to be the ones earning the money. Subletting should be banned. Coffee shops shouldn’t be privatized.

[@sgcitizen1063]

Rental is the biggest expense for stalls. Can the Minister provide data to show otherwise? Whichever party that run SG, there is a need to keep stall rental low and the country has to find ways to sustain this. Hawkers also need to make a living to look after their kids, and also their old parents. GST is another contributor to high cost as it is compounded along the way from 1st supplier to the final one.

[@logicalthoughts]

Such a simple solution. Provide smaller portions with smaller plates to make the portion seems like it hasn't changed.

[@roystonling5115]

Nowadays, for a lot of dishes, it doesn't make much sense to eat at hawker centre anymore. Remember, it is ultra Carb intense and nutritionally, it is very sad. U want to eat healthy, it is almost impossible. The veg is like few pieces, prawns are halves, half an eggs etc. So while it is maybe cheaper, it is no longer gd. So even if we up the price to say 8 for prawn noodles, how much more are you going to get?

[@douglasstanley5209]

When the RTS is up and running, it will take a shorter time to travel to JB than waiting for seats during lunch time at hawker center. You probably can whatsapp to order first, drop by, pick up your tabao and go. Our Local food outlets will then feel the competition and our proud hawker culture will soon diminish. I hope that day won't come but would be too late by then.

[@ralphou]

$8 for a bowl of Prawn noodles? is not realistic for a low-incomer

[@alphakwk]

All depends on government

[@CheecheeKeong-gr8no]

The problem is the government. Full stop, fix that

[@LawrenceWank]

PAP intervention is making the situation worse. Do not trust PAP. Do not vote PAP.

[@ahchoon9067]

joker so hawker must earn less

[@MrBunnylow]

If they stop doing big renovation for hawker center very 5 years or so. Each time these renovation, the rental increase... den cost increase.

[@wf645]

Hawker centre rentals are affordable, its the hawker themselves that bids high. Contrastingly, rental rates at coffee shop and food court are much higher !

[@celestialstar124]

@@wf645 yes you are correct My grandmother stall is only $1k plus a month. That's the bid of many long term stall owners at my grandmother hwaker centre. She is hwaker for 50 years.

[@steventay5834]

Don't expect any cheap food anymore. In future, you cant buy a bowl of noodles for $4. Likely $4.50

[@train_xc]

At my place it’s is now minimum $6

[@StArLiTe5691]

I don't mind paying more at a hawker if the food is good and proportion is not measly. But sadly, thr are stalls that raised prices (understandably), and either dropped standards or cut their portions. The meal just becomes not satisfying lah 😅😅😅

[@aluminaterock660]

Maybe you should talk about the properties and cars of hawkers before talking about the prices ?

[@WilliamWee-h4d]

Hawkers said they work hard, the rest of you are paid well working on very relaxing jobs, the rest of you enjoy an easy good life

[@kib3571]

Hawkers nowadays are very enterprising, they want quick profit and that makes them increase the price.

[@thionga8774]

"Hawker Food", as it's called, is an iconic cultural emblem - a blessing, a way of life in Singapore. So, "salute" to all the hawkers in Singapore. However, to preserve it as an enduring emblem for Singapore, one must recognize the significance it plays in the life of an average ordinary Singaporean - the time and cost savings in meal preparation for each and everyone of them. One too must recognize, and appreciate the fact that under the pressure of increasing costs to the hawkers, it's difficult to keep their prices attractively low for their customers. So, this is where some collective effort in "thinking out of the box" must come in... Is there a role for the Government in Singapore to play in the thinking effort? And the Singapore coop movement too? I know in the 1980s-90s, NTUC had ventured into launching some coops in the food hawking business. How successful have they been? Any valuable lessons to share with other Singaporeans?

[@carnesir]

Since the govt sector like to cut customers and hawkers I suggest all civil servants take 10% pay cut and offset hawker rentals with it before they propose such drastic measures

[@wf645]

Perhaps you should understand the difference and how much is hawker center rents vs privately ran coffeeshops rentals to shoot your mouth off !

[@martinbrock713]

Mr. Seetoh criticized the latest initiative as “bullying hawkers.”

[@ggg9gg]

Those stalls in malls are are crazily priced, $8 and above. I'd rather eat at McDonald's honestly, it comes with a drink at least

[@jefri4176]

Fast food like McDonald profit margin is usually higher than food stall because their business is already streamline and high turnover. That's why McD can afford to charge more "affordable".

[@turbanless]

I dont like hawker food coz they lack of cleanliness n hygien..i tell u they r not cheaper any more n portion also has decreased

[@tanpengjoo7205]

Everything can be cheap if landlords don't keep raising rental in the name of " costs " in fact they only want every year revenue to go up and up so the top management can have year end fat bonuses at the expense of ordinary folks suffering, if not why our small population island with no natural disaster yet our ministers and president salary many times hugher than big countries that are so difficult to manage.

[@RealRick0408]

It’s global standard, landlord reap additional incentive fees by increasing tenant’s rent if their business r good. (Like equity option) It’s despicable but tts how landlord business work.

[@RealRick0408]

Anti-corruption premium for better educated politicians. Doesn’t guarantee results, neither does it solve true issues facing commoners nor remotely close to reflecting real constraints that commoners are facing. But these are professionals, Work on best effort basis only. Peer review every 5 years via votes. Reflect public acceptance on policies & how the stewardship is.. KPI & Bonus based on GDP growth mostly. Reflecting effectiveness of running the country as whole. This is the best paper indicators that are easily manipulated. Damm.. our government is really smart, it’s so well-crafted theory based indicators that even I can’t complain. I feel disgusted at myself..

[@celestialstar124]

My grandma is 50 years hwaker. Hwaker centre price is bid by the stall owner. Price is usually not too high unless the stall owner purposely bid too high. Coffeeshop prices are ridiculously high when some big businesses bid at ridiculous price then rent out at high prices. It's these big businesses that ruin the rental prices.

[@Naturallyhealthy2024]

A budget meal at a neigbourhood : rice , one chicken wing, coleslaw. When mandated this is what happens, normal meals just get sized down, portions cut. Secondly Just walk around town and see how much hawker food has increased.

[@wowokingxoxo]

The high bids on rentals are due to demand outstripping supply. So its a demand supply issue. Solution is to increase supply immediately . Convert the HDB void decks to increase supply. Put in time , noise and odour restrictions and filters. The solution is here, they just dont want to do it. Instead the panellists blames us for paying cheap when it is not cheap. Vote wisely.

[@patleo123]

It's very sustainable. The shop in Toa Payoh is still selling $1 nasi lemak.

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

You go eat it for the rest of your life then loh. People are talking about the general whole and you go out of your way to pick an isolated example instead.

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

Cartoon.....🤡

[@LonganLee]

The answer is , Hawker Foods have remained cheap and good for decades until gst hike which triggered all sorts of price hikes. Of course, politically correctly, I would say GST hike may not be the only factor but also global warming 🤭🏳️🫣🤣 So, short answer is Yes, SG hawker foods can remain cheap and good as it's a proven Fact. But rentals have gone up tremendously. I like how people cherry pick the reasons for price hikes but ignore the root cause

[@RealRick0408]

Bro. U didn’t explain the global warming part neither.. to be honest, we r know it’s more than GST hike, inflation, landlord, nature of retail etc. So wads the solution? Any feasible or plausible solution. If not is there any action on gov to assist on perhaps conditional tax-rebate or through other industry financial aids like lower financing rates with relevant covenants that can be directed at hawkers or landlord. Without direct interference, not a big fan of gov intervention.

[@LonganLee]

@@RealRick0408 Before we proceed with the solution, has the Video admitted in anyway about GST hike and rental hikes being a contributing factor ? If No, no need for further discussion because it's too low quality

[@petrusromanus3790]

We need anti trust laws to prevent companies from working together to control prices unfairly or to create a monopoly.

[@buildingintelligencetogeth6638]

The key is value for money. I am ok to pay $7 dollars too for a good bowl of ba Chor mee, assuming ingredients quantity and quality matches the expectation. What I don’t like is paying $4 dollars for a bow of ba Chor mee that I don’t even know it fills which part of my stomach…which leads me to the next point. I can understand the need and tolerate an to increase price up to 50 cents only if the quantity remains the same. It’s interesting and pretty insightful that both rental and utilities are being quoted as the highest cost to hawker right now as compared to manpower, which means govt does have certain ways to influence it. Keen to see how our govt will be managing cost going forward besides using exchange rate as that only influence our ingredients costs mostly.

[@90taetaeya]

Big issue: to keep it cheap, have to employ foreigners for low wage to keep food prices down but quality will also go down. To keep quality up, have to employ locals, but locals require higher wages making price go up. There’s no middle ground indeed.

[@Bryan-eg7si]

hawker stall rentals should be governed by Singapore Gov. The amount of money that is earned from GST hike should go towards supporting these hakwers

[@RealRick0408]

lol. Dream on. Go check the last “social driven” food stalls for rent, boatloads of complains. Don’t expect “social” if the gov is involved. It’s still profit driven.

[@celestialstar124]

My grandmother is 50 years hwaker. Actually hwaker centre stalls is bid by stall owners. Rental usually low unless the stall owner purposely bid too high. Coffeeshop is not managed by government thus price ridiculously high

[@martinbrock713]

Seetoh slammed the government’s S$3.50 budget meals initiative as “abusive and stifling,” accusing it of bullying hawkers. He argues that high stall rental bidding and the pressure to sell cheap meals without fair compensation threaten hawkers’ financial survival despite efforts to offer affordable food options.

[@jer2911.L]

@martinbrock713 Seetoh should stick to his camera. Does he know how to handle a wok?

[@kwokleongawyong1064]

Macdonald is cheaper, the hawker stuff is less tasty. N talk about some of the malay and indian coffeeshop.

[@martinarchie2902]

Seetoh pointed out that hawkers often pay market rates to secure a stall, sometimes up to S$7,000 per month, but are then pressured by the government to sell dishes at prices as low as S$3.50, without sufficient compensation.

[@wf645]

"Seetoh pointed out that hawkers often pay market rates to secure a stall, sometimes up to S$7,000 per month" for which hawker centre ? if its in a coffeeshop or a mall, than its a very different context. Seetoh, fail to say where to begin with ! Base on Dollar and Sense article on average rental price of hawker centres, the average price of rental is much lower. Only a hand ful of hot spots would attract higher rental bids. Else hawker centre rentals are not as high as Seetoh claim. If its that high, usually mean its a privately ran coffeeshop or in food court in a mall ! Hmmm I sense misinformation !

[@ivanlimzg]

If the prices keep rising and people stay away, then the hawker culture will die

[@htahtoo8851]

I'm learning to cook at home. It's less expensive.

[@celestialstar124]

Sadly some people too poor to own a house so rent and their landlord do not allow cooking

[@yaulapkee6629]

I cook but the hassle of doing it for a household of two or three does not make economic sense. Plus all the preparation and washing...

[@htahtoo8851]

@@yaulapkee6629 Another benefit of cooking at home. I can also control my blood pressure and blood sugar without medication.

[@kib3571]

The vendors in the past just wanted to make a living, unlike the vendors today who aim to become rich.

[@celestialstar124]

@@kib3571 indeed.

[@godsamazinggrace5331]

Greed!!

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

🌹In order to fairly attack and criticise why and how mass food in hawker centres and coffee shops become so unaffordable we fist must let everyone find out how much a stall rental is and why sublet is allowed. Once you know this two things you will know who is the devil behind all these nonsense that made things in society so miserable to begin with. They want you to blame the private sectors and yourselves for being cheapskates so that you all wont have time to remember who actually causes the situation to begin with in the first place.

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

I always chuckle when pap supporters said income tax is low. They charge you 9 percent in everything you use instead. The people in Singapore have never been bright and sharp to begin with...

[@celestialstar124]

@@anglo-saxonconnor817 i agree with you on this.

[@martinarchie2902]

People who defend PAP are only defending based on the name of the party not policies

[@1337hacks]

Its strange that we expect our hawkers to offer an affordable option but not any other businesses.

[@celestialstar124]

Simply because hwaker centre stall owners bid their own price for the hwaker stall. All other business pay the rental set up by their owner.

[@fanlee6560]

maybe lesser will eat out and just eat instant noodles at home. there is a ntuc coffeeshop near my place, the cai png is super expensive, 2 meat 1 veg $5 (the potions are sooo small, if chicken is 3 small piece, veg is just 1.5 of your spoon) like that also cannot eat full. and not much nutrients also. The other mushroom noodle also same, 2 meat ball 2 slice meat, half fist of noodle also asking $4.50. at home also can make, just get some better quality meat ball. much cheaper I think. 😅

[@martinarchie2902]

In March, Mr Louis Chua Kheng Wee, Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC, had argued against a purely price-based tender system, where hawker stalls are awarded to the highest bidder.

[@tf-ok]

Welcome to the most expensive "street food" in Asia!

[@JonLina-u2z]

rental is the killer.

[@godsamazinggrace5331]

Businesses forget they need the support of customers/patrons to get started and get going

[@louischen2109]

If you are willing to pay above $10,000 rental for a hawker space above the previous high of $8,000, how will you price your items? And if it is higher than other average similar hawker, where is the cost of the higher price in this item? If everyone follow this master, what will happen to the prices in the hawker market? Everyone one have their reasoning for offering the highest bid but would this affect others for their own stand?. Similarly, some stores are charging 20cents for their plastic bags for takeaway with their special personalized design and transfer this additional cost above the basic plastic bag price, should this be so?. Allowing all these practices would in the lonnnnnng run acknowledge others to do so if we accept them without voicing the necessary corrections.

[@kennySg101]

Generally, prices are going up for public service, supermart, market, doctor and dental treatment. Of course in restaurants food as well. Why keep focusing on hawkers and prices of hawker food. The feeling is that they are the culprit of raising costs. Leave the hawkers alone !

[@massmailing1491]

Those who rent from NEA should now allow sub rental as public subsidy is involved.

[@ocswoodlands]

i clearly remember paying $2.80 for pork rib king rice + egg in jurong west (near ntu) in 1994. fast forward 30 years later, now paying about $6 for the same dish... the inflation rate for gjis item is about 2.5% which is pretty reasonable...

[@flowertowerrr]

first lady is the best: wah prawn noodle for 15$ so expensive. also first lady: we should pay hawkers more

[@HHTay-f7m]

Can tell she's hamming up for the cameras

[@davidyeocom8323]

Most of hawker food is not cheaper anymore , not all show up have budget meal $2.50 to 3.50 anymore as is a limited foods to pick.

[@matreen427]

the problem is the increasing high rentals that hawkers face, which is then passed on to consumers. I’m not going to pay the same amount which I can have better meals at an aircon eatery

[@ahchoon9067]

why not treat it as extra customers? some will not even buy from you if no budget meal.

[@sleepy_dobe]

Very simple solution: Government take back all hawker centres, coffeeshops, food markets etc and either manage and lease them direct to hawkers at low rents on 2 - 3 years contract or copy the bus contract system whereby the state still owns all the food stall properties but private companies tender to manage them at rents that are determined by the state. This will control the major cost of running a hawker stall, and with renewable contracts for the food stalls, the govt can still ensure that rental rates can still reflect inflation or economic progress costs. The current govt has always resisted this direct management of ALL food stalls, except for those food centres located together with wet markets, but if we apply the same system for public buses to the management of ALL food stalls regardless of location, then the govt don't need to drastically employ more staff to manage all the stalls. All public buses are now owned by the LTA, but all transport services are managed by the successful tenderer while transport fares are still determined by a govt-backed public transport council. With such a system, the LTA doesn't need to manage the buses, their maintenance, schedule of services etc etc, hence don't need to increase staff count nor develop expertise nor train staff in those competencies. So with this, - Buses = Food stalls (all hawker food stalls, not just wet market ones) LTA = NEA. SBS/Tower Transit/Go Ahead/SMRT = New food management companies or NTUC Foodfare/Kopitiam/Food Junction etc etc. Public Transport Council = New hawker food regulatory committee (or other name) under NEA or some other govt agency.

[@alanng4436]

I support efficiently run hawker stall that constantly have customers to serve. Idle hawker stall will always cannot cover their cost.

[@martinbrock713]

“What did they do to deserve this. Why do you want to interfere in the journey of these humble entry level food business entrepreneurs and hamper creativity?” Mr Seetoh criticised.

[@seandaniel3994]

Govt should subsidized especially for the needy .....point blank !

[@kodaiflow2]

Hawkers traditionally made food for people without kitchens to live, not to be an experience. There should be specific centers for HDB tenants, and other places for bankers and tourists.

[@johnchow8372]

Increase of GST and rental had driven hawker food by more than double since two years ago. With the new impending, it is not possible to lower prices.

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

Property burst and economy slump can result in price coming down which is also known as price correction because if surrounding regions all do the same things pap are chasing but at a fraction of the price the investments and economic bubble in Singapore will disappear and Singapore will have no choice but to price match the rivals. Really depends on people perspective and wants in such cases.

[@tanchewhoe3566]

Please go deep analysis into the “Cost” of the business! When supply chain issues raise 3 - 4 years ago due to the pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine, the food suppliers businessman increase the price! Reason of cost increases, so cost of the hawker has increased! But now supply side have been softening. Global supply have reduced price from the peak and global commodity price went down to pre-pandemic levels! You see the crude oil now is USD70~ , and others food commodities price have dropped! And our Singapore dollar have been strengthened! Meaning cost must go back to the previous levels, but the food manufacturers or middle still keeping high prices selling to hawkers , still selling high price to NTUC FairPrice (?) ! , they are enjoying extreme high profit? And the supermarket like FairPrice doesn’t want to reduce prices because of KPI in dollars that they enjoy during inflation? They are killing our people interest and steal money from our lower income people pockets! Please investigate and brought it to public! Our government are all scholars, they have deep pockets and don’t feel the pressure and pains!

[@waikiankhoo8746]

1) solve the tenant subleasing 2) all land belong to state right? Can gov offer the best rental price for stall owners? Definitely u can.

[@sihanchen7552]

Why is Eric Seetoh not invited to this podcast? Surely he will have a lot to say about this topic !!!

[@yut576]

to beat it - learn to cook…nobody are saying it out loud i.e. eating out is one of the highest contributors of individual / household cost. By eating home cook food...it is healthier and usually predictably tasty and obviously cheaper. Another thing nobody is saying is who these landlords are involved in a bidding war for publicly funded premises. NEA/HDB is really making a killing ….

[@celestialstar124]

Cooking for 1 person meal can be more expensive than cai fan

[@teamtitan3975]

Get PAP MPs to check on the rampant illegal sub-letting of hawker stalls. Illegal sub-letting increases rent substantially for hawkers (they pass the cost to consumers). Management/Rental of stalls in hawker centers are controlled by the government. You should direct your energy to the government. This podcast is useless otherwise.

[@celestialstar124]

Correct

[@DS91284]

Well depends on how cheap you want to make it. How much willpower do you have? How much money do you have? If you set up a "hawker garden" a large community vertical farm for hawkers only access, you could subsidise the cost of the meals. Is the government willing?

[@Jeff79z]

Food in social enterprise managed hawker centre are generally more expensive compared to nea managed hawker centre and even private managed coffeeshop.

[@dwichiesa]

Bro... new estate coffee shops prices are mad bro. Easily 1.75x more expensive than hawker....

[@ethanf.6848]

If hawkers ain't losing money, why shouldn't they offer the budget meals? Rather than business model, it should be considered as a form of "national service" or paying forward. So long as inflation prevails, prices will continue to rise. Hawkers will pass on the costs directly to consumers rather than absorb any losses to protect their own margins. This is happening and has always been. Nevertheless, demand will drastically reduce as affordability becomes more constrained or other options become widely available to reduce demand inelasticity. Once pricing power has been lost, the hawker landscape will be forced to change, like or not.

[@Tarzan796]

location dictates outcome.

[@temasekb]

Dk why Happy hawkers decided to set up 2 coffeeshops within 10 steps of each other. On average the price per meal is 4.50 and upwards.While 1 shop is fully rented, the other is only 3/9 rented. Every stall that tried to set up at that shop couldn't make it in the end.

[@celestialstar124]

Talk about hwaker being nicer to the poor. I actually just complain with my mum and some residents of my estate because a particular famous duck rice hwaker actually tell everyone no soup for take away order and when we see fast food uniform granny buy even 1 packet of duck rice he will give her extra meat and free soup. 1 resident claim her son in law buy 8 serving and especially ask for soup but the hwaker told him no soup for takeaway. But treat the cleaner order differently. Some people feel unfair because everyone are customers so why certain people treated differently. But because they can still afford it and the food is good thus they will continue to buy. I won't complain anymore because now i realise those hwaker are just trying to give back to society and only for those who are really poor. I actually respect the stall more. I will eat duck rice today and tomorrow to support the kindness of the hwaker.

[@bruneilange4161]

What are renting of a stall like?

[@nutforluck]

Rental is like the main reason for the increase in price, so why not address the rental?