Unregulated street hawking poses a risk to public health and pollutes the environment. For this reason, street hawkers were relocated into purpose-built hawker centres with proper facilities in the 1980s. All hawkers and their assistants involved in the sale of food have to undergo training in the safe handling and preparation of food. In order to protect public health and safety, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) takes action against illegal hawkers who circumvent our regulations.
In 2017, the majority of the feedback received was on the illegal hawking of food items, which include fruits, otah-otah, and curry puffs. During the same period, enforcement action was taken against about 340 illegal hawkers for selling food items or goods such as household products, clothes and mobile phone accessories. However, the best deterrence against illegal hawkers is for members of the public not to purchase any items, regardless of whether they are food or non-food, from them. Food sold may be unsafe and products may be of inferior quality. Such vendors come and go, and cannot be found if buyers have problems with their purchase. Through choosing such modes of sales, these illegal street hawkers are in effect passing the risks to the unsuspecting consumer to bear.
A very small number of Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, subject to meeting the stringent eligibility criteria, have been given street hawking licences under the Street Hawking Scheme. They sell specific approved items, such as newspapers and phone cards; and are required to display their licences when conducting their businesses. They are also required to peddle their wares at fixed locations in public places, with the support of Town Councils, which decide on the designated locations in order to ensure that street hawking activities do not adversely affect residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the vicinity.
Street hawking may not always be the best solution for someone trying to make a living. In the long run, street hawkers are encouraged to adopt more sustainable options such as picking up new skills through the various government-funded training programmes and seeking employment, or operating from a proper stall in a hawker centre or other retail premises to secure a more stable repeat clientele. Any Singaporean who wishes to embark on hawking may rent a hawker stall from monthly tender exercises carried out by SFA.
Local illegal hawkers in financial difficulties are referred to social service agencies. They can also approach Workforce Singapore (WSG) Career Centres located island-wide for career and training advice and services to enhance their job search skills and employability. SFA also provides assistance with the stall application process if they wish to bid for a hawker stall.
SFA will continue to take firm and decisive action against any person who engages in any illegal hawking activity. We advise members of the public to report on illegal hawkers by writing to us via https://www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback. Those found illegal hawking may have their goods seized and be fined $300, $400 and $500 for the first, second and third offences respectively. Upon the fourth and subsequent offences, they will be prosecuted in Court.
