APPLICATION FOR HAWKER LICENCES (Priority for old retrenched workers)

Dr Koh Lam Son asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will give priority to applicants for hawker licences who have been retrenched and are unable to find new jobs because of old age.

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng (for the Minister for the Environment): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid that no priority will be given to retrenched persons applying for a hawker licence because not all retrenched persons are in financial hardship. To qualify for a hawker licence, a means test, based on the applicant's financial position, age and the number of dependants he has to support, is imposed. As long as the applicant satisfies the hardship criteria, he can choose from available vacancies in the hawker centres. Over January and February this year, 14 of the 68 approved cases, or 21%, were retrenched persons.

However, I must inform the Member for Telok Blangah that since the Government is not building any more hawker centres, vacancies in HDB and MOE hawker centres are very limited indeed.

Mr Chng Hee Kok (Radin Mas): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am concerned about the failure rate of 25%. Do the Ministry officials offer advice to applicants on the capital cost for setting up a hawker stall, so that they will know what potential risks they are incurring? This is to discourage applicants who have no skills but want to take up a stall.

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: I would think that these people can probably get better help from their friends or those who are already operating stalls to let them know the cost of starting a hawking business.

Mr Yeo Choo Kok: Sir, will the Senior Parliamentary Secretary consider converting vacant stalls in a produce market into cooked food stalls?

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: Yes. In fact, we have already been carrying out conversion exercises. But there are some stalls you can convert and others you cannot.

Mr Speaker: Dr Koh.

Dr Koh Lam Son (Telok Blangah): Sir, before I ask Questions 3 and 4, I would like to declare my pecuniary interest in these two questions. Question 3, Sir.