"We need to reform an education system and economy that glorifies paper qualifications and sneers at those who become tradesmen. Hawkers must be made noble. Awards are nice, as Ambassador-at-large Tommy Koh suggests, but hawkers really want some basic human dignity, not the crumbs of elitist meritocracy. Insisting that hawkers run their own stalls and stop profiteering from a rentier mentality will not only improve the prospects of hawkers, it will encourage real expertise as cooks and chefs take ownership of their stalls. Beefing up the supply of stalls in overcrowded areas will also help lower rents. Risk aversion and the safety net Why work 12 hours a day so that you can potentially lose the shirt off your back when nobody shows up at your stall? Why not take a job working for someone else in an entry-level job and still be able to net some overtime pay? With hawker centre cleaner wages set to rise to $1,200 or more, some hawkers may find it more profitable to throw away leftovers than to put food on the table. With the gaping income gap in our country, we need to equip hawkers to deal with risk, lower those risks and strengthen social safety nets. Maybe free utilities for the first two years of opening a stall? Some hawkers could take on and register apprentices and could be given cash payouts/rebates if their apprentices set up shop on their own after two years, or if they take over the business."
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 08:13:34 +0000
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